Learn Hardcore Swahili: Fundi anachimba mfereji shambani. - The craftsman is digging a ditch on the farm.

The verb anachimba breaks down into three parts:
• a- = 3rd person singular subject prefix (he/she)
• -na- = present tense/aspect marker (ongoing or habitual action)
• chimba = root meaning dig
Altogether a + na + chimba = anachimba, literally he digs or he is digging.

Why is there no English article (a or the) before mfereji?

Swahili does not use definite or indefinite articles. Nouns simply stand on their own, and context tells you whether they’re specific or general. So mfereji can mean a canal or the canal depending on the situation.

Why isn’t there a preposition before mfereji to mark it as the object?

In Swahili, direct objects follow the verb without any preposition. The verb-object relationship is clear from word order and agreement. Thus anachimba mfereji directly conveys he digs a canal.

What does the suffix -ni in shambani indicate?

The suffix -ni is the locative ending meaning in or at. When you attach it to shamba (field) you get shambani, in the field.

How can I tell the noun classes of mfereji and shamba?

• mfereji has prefix m- in singular (class 3) and mifereji in plural (class 4).
• shamba historically has prefix ji- (often silent) in singular (class 5) and mashamba in plural (class 6).
Learning these prefixes and their plurals helps you recognize noun classes and agreement patterns.

How would I put this sentence into the past tense?

Replace the present marker -na- with the past marker -li-:
Fundi alichimba mfereji shambani.
Breakdown: a- (he) + li- (past) + chimba (dig) = he dug, so the whole sentence means The craftsman dug a canal in the field.

How do I turn it into a question: “Is the craftsman digging a canal in the field?”

You can simply add the question particle Je, at the beginning:
Je, fundi anachimba mfereji shambani?
Alternatively, you can rely on rising intonation:
Fundi anachimba mfereji shambani?

How do I express the passive voice, meaning a canal is being dug by the craftsman in the field?

Use the passive verb form -chimbwa with the correct subject prefix and na for the agent:
Mfereji unachimbwa na fundi shambani.
• u- = subject prefix for class 3 (mfereji)
• -na- = present tense marker
• chimbwa = passive of chimba (dig)
• na fundi = by the craftsman
• shambani = in the field