Itakapofika saa sita, wafanyakazi watakuwa wameshanunua glavu kwa ajili ya kazi ya usiku.

By noon, the workers will already have bought gloves for the night shift.

Breakdown of Itakapofika saa sita, wafanyakazi watakuwa wameshanunua glavu kwa ajili ya kazi ya usiku.

• kuwa: to be
• kazi: the work
• usiku: the night
• kununua: to buy
• ya: of
• kufika: to arrive
• kwa ajili ya: for
• mfanyakazi: the worker
• saa: the hour
• sita: six
• glavu: the glove

Questions & Answers about Itakapofika saa sita, wafanyakazi watakuwa wameshanunua glavu kwa ajili ya kazi ya usiku.

What does itakapofika saa sita mean and how is itakapofika constructed?

Itakapofika saa sita means “when it reaches six o’clock.” The verb itakapofika is built from:

• i- (class 9 subject prefix for saa “hour”)
• ta- (future tense marker)
• -ka- (relative marker “when/if”)
• -po- (temporal extension used in time clauses)
• fika (root “arrive/come”)

Combined, it literally says “when it will arrive” (i.e. “when the clock strikes”).

Why is watakuwa used before wameshanunua, and can I drop it?

watakuwa is the future form of kuwa (“to be”). Paired with the perfect wameshanunua, it creates a future perfect: “they will have already bought.” Technically, in a future time clause the perfect alone (wameshanunua) can imply “will have bought,” but watakuwa clarifies the future aspect and is more formal. Dropping it isn’t wrong in casual speech, but might sound less precise.

What does the -sha- in wameshanunua do?

The infix -sha- means “already.”

• wame-nunua = “they have bought”
• wa-me-sha-nunua = “they have already bought”

It intensifies the perfect by adding that sense of prior completion.

How do you generally form a future perfect in Swahili?

A common pattern is:

1. Subject prefix + ta- + kuwa (future of “to be”)
2. me- (perfect marker) + optional -sha-
   • verb root
     Example: watakuwa wameshanunua = “they will have already bought.”

What does kwa ajili ya mean and is there a shorter way to say “for”?

kwa ajili ya literally means “for the purpose of.” A shorter, more colloquial alternative is just kwa + noun phrase, e.g. kwa kazi ya usiku = “for night work.” Both are acceptable; kwa ajili ya is slightly more formal.

Why is there a ya after kazi in kazi ya usiku?

kazi (“work”) is a class 9 noun. When linking a class 9/10 noun to another noun, you use the connector ya. Thus kazi ya usiku = “work of night” (= “night work”).

Is glavu singular, plural, or both? How do I specify “one glove” or “two gloves”?

glavu is a borrowed noun in class 9/10, so singular and plural look identical. To show number, add a quantifier:

• glavu moja = one glove
• glavu mbili = two gloves
  Otherwise agreement in verbs or adjectives (if used) and context tell you if it’s singular or plural.

Can I use mpaka saa sita instead of itakapofika saa sita to mean “by six”?

Yes. mpaka saa sita means “up to/by six” (a deadline), while itakapofika saa sita emphasizes “when the clock strikes six.” They’re close in meaning but mpaka highlights “no later than six,” whereas itakapofika focuses on the moment six o’clock arrives.

Why is the subject prefix in itakapofika i- and not u- or another letter?

The prefix matches the noun class of the subject (saa “hour”), which belongs to class 9. Class 9/10 subject prefixes are i- (singular) and zi- (plural). Therefore i-ta-ka-po-fika correctly refers back to saa.