Breakdown of Kesho, ukimaliza kazi mapema, zima taa zote ofisini kabla ya kuondoka.
kwenye
at
kazi
the work
kesho
tomorrow
mapema
early
kabla ya
before
kuondoka
to leave
zote
all
kuzima
to turn off
ofisi
the office
taa
the lamp
ukimaliza
if you finish
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Questions & Answers about Kesho, ukimaliza kazi mapema, zima taa zote ofisini kabla ya kuondoka.
What kind of clause is ukimaliza kazi mapema, and why is it used here instead of a simple present tense?
Ukimaliza kazi mapema is a conditional/time subordinate clause (often called a “when/if” clause). Swahili uses the subjunctive or relative prefix u- plus -ki- (here contracted to -k-) and the verb maliza to indicate “when/if you finish.” A simple present (unamaliza) would just state “you finish,” but ukimaliza signals “when you finish” or “if you finish.”
How is the form ukimaliza constructed?
Breakdown of ukimaliza:
• u-: second‐person singular subject prefix (“you”)
• -k-: conditional/subjunctive marker (from -ki-)
• maliza: verb stem meaning “finish”
Together, u-k-maliza = “when/if you finish.”
What role does mapema play, and why does it follow kazi?
Mapema is an adverb meaning “early.” In Swahili, adverbs of time usually come after the noun or verb phrase they modify. Here, it modifies kazi (“work”), so you say kazi mapema = “work early” rather than mapema kazi.
What does zima mean, and what mood is it in?
Zima is a command (imperative) meaning “turn off” or “switch off.” The bare stem zima is used for second‐person singular or plural commands, depending on context.
Why is ofisi changed to ofisini, and what does it indicate?
Ofisini is the locative form of ofisi (“office”), created by adding the locative suffix -ni. It means “at the office.” Swahili uses locative suffixes on nouns to express “in/at/on” a place.
Why do we say taa zote, and what does zote do here?
Taa means “light” (or “lamp”). Zote is the plural adjective meaning “all” for class 5/6 (which includes taa). So taa zote = “all the lights.”
How is kabla ya kuondoka formed, and why is kuondoka in its infinitive form?
Kabla ya means “before.” After kabla ya, you use a noun or a verbal noun/infinitive. Kuondoka is the infinitive of “to leave,” functioning as a noun here (“leaving”). Thus, kabla ya kuondoka = “before leaving.”
Why are there commas after Kesho and mapema?
Commas mark pauses and separate adverbial elements in Swahili writing. Here, Kesho (“tomorrow”) and the clause ukimaliza kazi mapema (“when you finish work early”) are fronted for emphasis, so commas signal their role as introductory/time-setting phrases.