Tulifurahi kuruhusiwa kuogelea baharini.

We were happy to be allowed to swim in the sea.

Breakdown of Tulifurahi kuruhusiwa kuogelea baharini.

• kuogelea: to swim
• kufurahia: to be happy
• kuruhusiwa: to be allowed
• baharini: in the sea

Questions & Answers about Tulifurahi kuruhusiwa kuogelea baharini.

How is Tulifurahi formed and what does it mean?

Tulifurahi breaks down as follows:
• tu- = subject prefix “we”
• -li- = past tense marker
• furahi = verb root “be happy”

Together, Tulifurahi means “we were happy.”

What is the difference between the active infinitive kuruhusu and the passive infinitive kuruhusiwa?

• kuruhusu = “to allow” (active infinitive of ruhusu)
• kuruhusiwa = “to be allowed” (passive infinitive)

The suffix -wa turns the verb passive, so kuruhusiwa literally means “to be allowed.”

Why are there two ku- prefixes in kuruhusiwa kuogelea?

Each verb infinitive in Swahili takes its own ku- prefix:

1. ku-ruhusi­­wa = “to be allowed”
2. ku-ogelea = “to swim”

They’re independent infinitives linked by meaning (“to be allowed to swim”).

What does kuogelea mean and how is it formed?

• ku- = infinitive marker (“to …”)
• ogelea = verb root for “swim” (intransitive)

So kuogelea means “to swim.”

What does baharini mean and why is there a -ni ending?

• bahari = “sea”
• -ni = locative suffix (“in/at/on”)

Together, baharini means “in the sea.”

How would you say “They allowed us to swim in the sea” in active voice?

Use walituruhusu kuogelea baharini:
• wa- = “they” (class 2 subject)
• li- = past tense
• tu- = “us” (object prefix)
• ruhusu = “allow”
• kuogelea baharini = “to swim in the sea”

How can I make the sentence present tense: “We are happy to be allowed to swim in the sea”?

Change tu-li-furahi to tu-na-furahi (present tense):
Tunafurahi kuruhusiwa kuogelea baharini
• na- = present tense marker (“are”)

How would I say “I was happy to be allowed to swim in the sea” (first person singular)?

Adjust the subject to ni- and add -li- for past:
Nilifurahi kuruhusiwa kuogelea baharini
• ni- = “I”
• -li- = past tense marker on the verb “be happy”