Ni lazima utunze mazingira nyumbani ili usipate magonjwa.

to be

Breakdown of Ni lazima utunze mazingira nyumbani ili usipate magonjwa.

• nyumba: the home
• kwenye: at
• ili: so that
• kupata: to get
• kutunza: to take care of
• lazima: necessary
• mazingira: the environment

Questions & Answers about Ni lazima utunze mazingira nyumbani ili usipate magonjwa.

What does Ni lazima mean in this sentence?

Ni lazima literally translates as “it is necessary” or “must.” In this context, it expresses an obligation, much like saying “you must” in English.

How is utunze conjugated and what does it mean?

Utunze comes from the verb kutunza, meaning “to take care of” or “to look after.” The prefix u- marks the second-person singular (you), and it appears in the subjunctive form following ni lazima. Thus, utunze means “you must take care of.”

What does mazingira nyumbani refer to?

Mazingira means “environment” or “surroundings,” and nyumbani means “at home.” Together, they specify that the care should be directed toward the home environment.

What role does ili play in this sentence?

Ili functions as a connector that introduces the purpose of the action. It translates to “so that” or “in order that,” showing that taking care of the home environment is meant to prevent an unwanted outcome.

What is the meaning and grammatical function of usipate?

Usipate is the negative subjunctive form of the verb kupata (to get or contract). The form indicates “do not get.” It specifies the negative consequence—in this case, the avoidance of contracting diseases—that results from not following the advised care.

How does this Swahili sentence structure compare to expressing obligation and purpose in English?

In English, one might say, “You must take care of the environment at home so that you do not get sick.” Both languages express obligation first (Swahili: ni lazima; English: “must”) followed by an instruction. The purpose is then introduced with a connector (ili in Swahili and “so that” in English) leading into the intended result. The key difference lies in Swahili’s use of specific verb forms and prefixes (like utunze and usipate) to signal subject and mood, whereas English relies on modal verbs and word order.