Kabla ya kuondoka, tuliamua kuaga wazazi wetu kwa heshima.

Before leaving, we decided to say goodbye to our parents respectfully.

Breakdown of Kabla ya kuondoka, tuliamua kuaga wazazi wetu kwa heshima.

• kabla ya: before
• kwa: with
• wetu: our
• kuondoka: to leave
• mzazi: the parent
• kuamua: to decide
• kuaga: to say goodbye
• heshima: the respect

Questions & Answers about Kabla ya kuondoka, tuliamua kuaga wazazi wetu kwa heshima.

What does "Kabla ya" mean, and why is it followed by an infinitive?

"Kabla ya" translates to "before" in English. In Swahili, it is used to introduce a temporal clause, and it is always followed by an infinitive. In this sentence, it introduces "kuondoka" (to leave), meaning "before leaving."

What is the function of "kuondoka" in the sentence?

"Kuondoka" is the infinitive form of the verb meaning "to leave." It follows "Kabla ya" to complete the temporal phrase "before leaving," indicating that the action of leaving happens after the decision mentioned in the main clause.

How is "tuliamua" constructed and what does it mean?

"Tuliamua" means "we decided." It is constructed from the subject prefix "tu-" (for "we"), followed by the past tense marker "-li-" and the verb root "amua" (to decide). This form shows that the decision was made in the past.

Why is the verb "kuaga" in the infinitive form after "tuliamua"?

In Swahili, when expressing decisions or intentions, the verb that follows the decision is in the infinitive form. Here, "kuaga" means "to bid farewell" or "to say goodbye," so "tuliamua kuaga" translates as "we decided to bid farewell."

What does "wazazi wetu" mean and how is it structured?

"Wazazi wetu" means "our parents." The word "wazazi" is the plural noun for "parents," and "wetu" is the possessive adjective meaning "our." Together, they specify whose parents are being referred to.

How does "kwa heshima" contribute to the meaning of the sentence?

"Kwa heshima" translates as "with respect." This prepositional phrase describes the manner in which the farewell was performed, indicating that the act of bidding farewell was done respectfully.

How are the parts of the sentence connected to form the complete meaning?

The sentence begins with a temporal clause "Kabla ya kuondoka" ("Before leaving"), which sets the time context. It is followed by the main clause "tuliamua kuaga wazazi wetu kwa heshima", meaning "we decided to bid farewell to our parents with respect." This structure is typical in Swahili, where a time-setting phrase can precede the main action, and decisions are expressed by linking a finite verb with an infinitive verb for the subsequent action.