Learn Hardcore Swahili: Vifaa ambavyo havitumiki vimepelekwa ghalani kusafishwa kabla ya kutolewa tena. - The equipment that is not used has been taken to the storehouse to be cleaned before being issued again.

Vifaa is the plural of kifaa, meaning “tool,” “device,” or “piece of equipment.” It belongs to noun class 8 (prefix vi-), which generally covers plural inanimate objects.

Why do we use ambavyo after vifaa?

ambavyo is the relative pronoun for noun class 8. It’s formed by the relative prefix amba- plus the class agreement -avyo. Together they mean “which” or “that,” introducing the clause havitumiki (“that are not used”).

How is havitumiki formed, and what does it express?

havitumiki means “are not used” (stative/passive). Breakdown:
• ha- = negative marker
• vi- = class 8 subject concord
• tumika = verb root “to be used”
• final -i = negative present-simple suffix
So ha + vi + tumika + i gives “they are not used.”

What does vimepelekwa mean, and how is this perfect passive form built?

vimepelekwa = “have been taken” (to a place). Components:
• vi- = class 8 subject concord
• -me- = perfect aspect marker (“have/had”)
• pelek = root “to send/take”
• -wa = passive suffix
Hence vifaa vimepelekwa = “the equipment have been taken.”

What is the role of ghalani, and why the -ni ending?

ghalani = “at/in the warehouse” (or storehouse). It’s the noun ghala (“warehouse”) plus the locative suffix -ni, which marks location.

Why is kusafishwa used here instead of kusafisha, and what does it mean?

kusafishwa = “to be cleaned.” It’s the passive infinitive formed by:
• ku- = infinitive marker
• safisha = root “to clean”
• -wa = passive suffix
In this context it expresses purpose after the locative: “taken to the warehouse in order to be cleaned.”

What is kabla ya, and why must you include ya before the infinitive?

kabla ya means “before.” kabla is a noun (“beginning/before”), so when you link it to an action you need the genitive particle ya (matching the following infinitive’s class). E.g. kabla ya kutolewa = “before being issued.”

What does kutolewa tena mean, and how is it formed?

kutolewa tena = “to be issued again.” Formation of kutolewa:
• ku- = infinitive marker
• tole = root “to take out/give out”
• -wa = passive suffix
And tena means “again,” placed after the verb phrase in Swahili.

Why are there two infinitives (kusafishwa and kutolewa) in this sentence?

They serve different functions:
• kusafishwa (after ghalani) is an infinitive of purpose (“in order to be cleaned”).
• kutolewa (after kabla ya) is part of a temporal clause (“before being issued again”).