Learn Hardcore Swahili: Kanuni mpya zimechapishwa na kamati ya shule leo. - The new rules have been printed by the school committee today.

zi – subject prefix for class 10 (matching kanuni, rules)
me – perfect/experiential marker (have)
chapishwa – passive stem of chapisha (to print), formed by adding the passive suffix -wa to the root chapish-

What tense and voice does zimechapishwa express?

It’s perfect passive – literally have been printed. The perfect aspect (marked by -me-) shows completion, and the passive suffix (-wa > -shwa/ -ishwa) shows that the action is received by the subject.

Why does zimechapishwa start with zi and not i or some other prefix?

Subject prefixes in Swahili agree with noun classes. Kanuni (rules) is class 10 (the plural of class 9), so its prefix is zi. A singular class 9 noun would take i-, and different tenses use other vowels (e.g. li- for simple past).

Is kanuni singular or plural, and how can you tell?

Here it means rules (plural). You tell from the verb: the zi- prefix on zimechapishwa agrees with a plural class 10 noun. Swahili nouns in class 9/10 often look identical in singular and plural, so agreement markers on the verb are key.

What is mpya and why does it come after kanuni?

Mpya is an adjective meaning new. In Swahili, adjectives generally follow the noun they modify. Mpya is one of several adjectives that don’t change form across noun classes (it’s invariable).

What does na mean in na kamati ya shule?

In a passive sentence, na introduces the agent (by). So na kamati ya shule means by the school committee. Outside passives, na can mean and or with, but context tells you it’s the agent marker here.

Why is the linking word ya used in kamati ya shule, and what does it indicate?

Ya is the genitive/linking preposition for class 9/10 nouns. It shows possession or association: committee of school, i.e. school committee.

What does leo mean and can it appear in other positions?

Leo means today. It’s a temporal adverb and can go at the beginning or end of the sentence for emphasis, e.g.
• Leo kanuni mpya zimechapishwa na kamati ya shule
• Kanuni mpya zimechapishwa na kamati ya shule leo

How would you change this sentence to present progressive or to future tense?

Present progressive:
Kanuni mpya zinachapishwa na kamati ya shule leo – The new rules are being printed
Future:
Kanuni mpya zitachapishwa na kamati ya shule kesho – The new rules will be printed by the school committee tomorrow