Learn Hardcore Swahili: Nimekuwa nikisoma makala hizi kuhusu lishe bora kila asubuhi. - I have been reading these articles about good nutrition every morning.

nimekuwa breaks down as ni- (1 sg subject) + me- (perfect aspect) + kuwa (to be), literally “I have been.” Here it acts as an auxiliary verb that, together with nikisoma, forms the continuous perfect: “I have been reading.”

What does the infix -ki- in nikisoma indicate?

The infix -ki- marks the continuous or progressive aspect (similar to “-ing” in English). When inserted after the subject marker (ni-), nikisoma means “reading” or “while I am reading.” In combination with nimekuwa, it emphasizes an ongoing action from the past into the present.

Why isn’t there an object marker in nikisoma makala hizi, and could I use one?

Object markers are optional when the object is directly stated after the verb. You could insert the class 6 plural marker zi to get nimekuwa nikizisoma makala hizi, but it often feels redundant. Native speakers typically say nikisoma makala hizi and rely on word order for clarity.

How do demonstratives agree with nouns, as in makala hizi?

Swahili demonstratives must match their noun’s class and number. makala (“articles”) belongs to noun class 6 (the plural of class 5), so the correct proximal plural demonstrative is hizi. Thus makala hizi = “these articles.” Each noun class has its own set of demonstrative forms.

Why is bora unchanged in lishe bora? Don’t adjectives need to agree with the noun class?

Some adjectives (like bora, nzuri, zito, pya) are invariable and never take class-specific prefixes. They remain the same regardless of the noun class. Therefore lishe bora = “good/optimal nutrition” without any change to bora.

What does kila asubuhi mean, and can it be placed elsewhere in the sentence?

kila means “each” or “every,” so kila asubuhi = “every morning.” As an adverbial time phrase, it’s flexible in Swahili—you can begin the sentence with it for emphasis:
Kila asubuhi nimekuwa nikisoma makala hizi kuhusu lishe bora.

How would I express this idea in the simple present or habitual tense instead of the continuous perfect?

Use the habitual/present marker -na- on the verb stem:
Ninasoma makala hizi kuhusu lishe bora kila asubuhi.
This means “I read (I’m reading) these articles about good nutrition every morning,” without stressing that the action started in the past and continues now.