Learn Hardcore Swahili: Fundi alisema saruji haitatosha, kwa hiyo ninahitaji uagize magunia mawili zaidi. - The technician said the cement will not be enough, so I need you to order two more sacks.

ha- (negative prefix)
i- (class 9 subject concord, referring to abstract nouns like saruji)
-ta- (future tense marker)
-tosha (verb root “to suffice”)
Altogether haitatosha = “it will not suffice.”

Why is there no article before saruji?

Swahili does not use articles like “a” or “the.” You simply say saruji for cement without an article.

What role does kwa hiyo play in the sentence?

kwa hiyo means “for that reason” or “therefore.” It links the preceding clause (it won’t be enough) to the consequence (I need to order more).

Why is ninahitaji used here? Couldn’t you use a different tense?

ninahitaji is the present tense of -hitaji (“to need”), indicating a current requirement: “I need.” A different tense would change the meaning (e.g., past or future need).

How is uagize formed, and why does it look like an imperative?

uagize is the subjunctive form of -agiza (“to order”), with:

u- (2nd person singular subject prefix “you”)
agiz (verb stem)
-e (subjunctive final vowel)
In ninahitaji uagize, it means “I need you to order.” It isn’t a direct command but a subordinate clause stating what must be done.

What does magunia mawili zaidi mean, and why is the order noun–number–“more”?

magunia = plural of begi (“bag,” “sack”)
mawili = “two”
zaidi = “more” or “extra”
So magunia mawili zaidi = “two more sacks.” In Swahili the noun comes first, then the number, then qualifiers like zaidi.