Learn Hardcore Swahili: Asha alikuwa ameshakamilisha utangulizi kabla sijafika ofisini. - Asha had already finished the introduction before I arrived at the office.

It expresses a past perfect sense: “Asha had already completed…”. Swahili builds this with the past of kuwa (“to be”) plus a perfect on the main verb.

alikuwa = a- (she) + -li- (past) + -kuwa (be) → “she was”
ameshakamilisha = a- (she) + -me- (perfect/anterior) + -sha- (already/completive) + kamilisha (to complete)

Together, alikuwa ameshakamilisha ≈ “she had already completed.”

What does the element -sha- add in ameshakamilisha? Can I omit it?

-sha- marks “already/already by then,” giving a completive nuance. Without it, alikuwa amekamilisha still means “she had completed,” but it lacks the explicit “already” emphasis. You can also use:

amekwishakamilisha (with -kwisha-, a more formal/standard variant of “already”)
alikuwa tayari amekamilisha (using the adverb tayari “already”)

Why is sijafika (negative perfect) used after kabla instead of a past like nilifika?

After kabla (“before”) Swahili typically uses the negative perfect to mean “before X happened” (literally “before X had not yet happened”). So:

kabla sijafika = “before I arrived” (literally “before I had not yet arrived”)
Other persons: kabla hajafika (before he/she arrived), kabla hatujafika (before we arrived), etc.

Using nilifika after kabla is ungrammatical; the standard pattern is kabla + negative perfect, or kabla ya + infinitive (see below).

Does kabla sijafika literally mean “before I didn’t arrive”? That sounds wrong in English.

Literally, yes it contains a negation, but idiomatically it means “before I arrived,” i.e., “before I had yet arrived (by that point).” In Swahili, the negative perfect after kabla marks that the action had not occurred up to that reference time.

Can I say kabla ya kufika ofisini or kabla ya mimi kufika ofisini instead?

Yes. Both are good alternatives:

kabla ya kufika ofisini = “before arriving at the office”
kabla ya mimi kufika ofisini = “before my arriving at the office” These are especially handy when you want a more general/nominal phrase. Your original kabla sijafika is very common and slightly more clause-like.

Can I put the kabla-clause first?

Yes. For example: Kabla sijafika ofisini, Asha alikuwa ameshakamilisha utangulizi. A comma is natural when the subordinate clause comes first.

What would change if I used a simple past like alikamilisha instead of alikuwa ameshakamilisha?

Asha alikamilisha utangulizi kabla sijafika ofisini. = “Asha finished the introduction before I arrived.” This is fine; it states sequence.
Asha alikuwa ameshakamilisha… adds the “already” nuance and strongly frames it as completed prior to another past event (classic past perfect feel).

What’s the difference between kamilisha and maliza?

kamilisha = to complete/bring to completion (often implies making something thorough/whole, “to finalize/complete”)
maliza = to finish/end (more general “be done with”) In many contexts they overlap; kamilisha can sound a bit more “complete to standard/specification,” while maliza is the everyday “finish.”

What noun class is utangulizi, and does it have a plural?

utangulizi is an u- noun (class 14, often abstract). It’s typically treated as uncountable and doesn’t normally take a plural. If you need a plural idea, rephrase (e.g., sehemu za utangulizi “introductory sections”).

Why isn’t there an object marker on the verb for utangulizi? When would I use one?

Swahili doesn’t require an object marker for a lexical (overt) object. You add an object marker when the object is pronominal/topical or omitted. For example, if “the introduction” is already known and you drop the noun:

Asha alikuwa ameshaukamilisha. = “Asha had already completed it.” (Object marker u- agrees with an u- class noun like utangulizi.)

What does ofisini mean exactly? Could I use kwenye ofisi or just ofisi?

ofisini = “at/in the office.” It’s ofisi + the locative suffix -ni. You can also say kwenye ofisi or katika ofisi, but ofisini is the most compact and idiomatic. Plain ofisi (without -ni) doesn’t by itself mean “at the office.”

Is there a difference between ofisini and kazini?

Yes. ofisini = specifically “at the office.” kazini = “at work” (any workplace). If your workplace is an office, both can fit, but ofisini is more specific.

Could I use the subjunctive after kabla, like kabla nifike ofisini?

You’ll hear kabla nifike… in some speech, especially for future/generic reference (“before I arrive”). In careful Standard Swahili, for past reference like your sentence, the default is the negative perfect (kabla sijafika). For neutral/generic, kabla ya kufika is also very common.

Are there other ways to say “already” here?

Yes:

-kwisha-: Asha alikuwa amekwishakamilisha utangulizi…
tayari (adverb): Asha alikuwa tayari amekamilisha utangulizi…
Colloquially, you’ll also see both combined for emphasis: ameshamaliza tayari (redundant but common in speech).

How do the negative-perfect forms look with different subjects in kabla-clauses?

Common forms:

1sg: kabla sijafika (before I arrived)
2sg: kabla hujafika (before you arrived)
3sg: kabla hajafika (before he/she arrived)
1pl: kabla hatujafika
2pl: kabla hamjafika
3pl: kabla hawajafika

Is fika the only verb for “arrive”? What about wasili?

Both exist:

fika = arrive, reach (very common and broad)
wasili = arrive (slightly more formal/precise, often for people/transport) Your clause could be kabla sijawasili ofisini, but kabla sijafika ofisini is the everyday choice.