Learn Hardcore Swahili: Niliandika agizo la mwalimu kwenye ubao. - I wrote the teacher's instruction on the board.

It breaks down as: ni- (I, subject marker 1st person singular) + -li- (past tense) + -andika (write) + the final vowel -a. So niliandika means “I wrote.”

Why is it agizo la mwalimu and not agizo ya mwalimu or agizo wa mwalimu?

The “of” connector is formed with -a and agrees with the head noun. The head is agizo (class 5), so you use la: agizo la mwalimu (the teacher’s instruction). You would use ya with class 6 plurals (e.g., maagizo ya mwalimu) and wa with class 1 singular heads (e.g., mwanafunzi wa mwalimu).

What noun class is agizo, and what is its plural?

Agizo is class 5. Its plural is class 6: maagizo. So: singular agizo la mwalimu, plural maagizo ya mwalimu.

What’s the nuance of agizo vs maelekezo vs amri?

agizo: an instruction/order issued by someone in authority; a directive.
maelekezo: instructions or directions (often step-by-step, explanatory).
amri: a command/order (more forceful, imperative).

What does kwenye mean, and can I replace it with katika or juu ya?

Kwenye is a general locative preposition meaning “in/at/on,” chosen by context. For writing on a board, kwenye ubao is natural. Juu ya ubao literally means “on top of the board” (emphasizing the surface). Katika is more “in/within” and isn’t used for surfaces like a board here.

Can I say ubaoni instead of kwenye ubao?

Yes. Adding the locative suffix -ni gives ubaoni (“on/at the board”). So you can say: Niliandika agizo la mwalimu ubaoni.

Is kwenye ubaoni acceptable?

It’s usually considered redundant. Prefer either kwenye ubao or ubaoni, not both together.

Can I change the word order, e.g., Kwenye ubao niliandika agizo la mwalimu?

Yes. Fronting kwenye ubao topicalizes the place: “On the board, I wrote the teacher’s instruction.” The neutral order is as given, but moving the place phrase is fine for emphasis/focus.

Do I need an object marker in the verb here?

No. The full object agizo la mwalimu is present, so no object marker is required. You could add one for a highly topical/known object (class 5 OM = li): Ni-li-li-andika …, e.g., Agizo la mwalimu? Nililiandika tayari. But the plain sentence doesn’t need it.

How do I negate the sentence?

Use the negative past: Sikuandika agizo la mwalimu kwenye ubao. Here si- (I, negative) + -ku- (negative past) + -andika (write).

What’s the difference between niliandika and nimeandika?

niliandika: simple past (“I wrote,” completed in the past).
nimeandika: present perfect (“I have written,” relevant to now or just completed).

How do I show “the” vs “a” (definiteness) for agizo or mwalimu?

Swahili has no articles; context supplies definiteness. You can use demonstratives if needed: agizo hili (this instruction), agizo lile (that instruction), mwalimu yule (that teacher): agizo la mwalimu yule.

Why is it ubao, and what’s the plural?

Ubao (board/blackboard/plank) is class 11; its plural is mbao (class 10). Note mbao also means “planks/wood” collectively. For classroom writing, you’ll typically use the singular: kwenye ubao or ubaoni.

Can I use kwa instead of kwenye for “on the board”?

No. Kwa generally means “at someone’s place,” “with/by means of,” or marks agents/recipients (e.g., kwa mwalimu, kwa kalamu). For location on a surface, use kwenye or a locative -ni form (ubaoni).

How do I say “I wrote the teacher’s instructions (plural) on the board”?

Niliandika maagizo ya mwalimu kwenye ubao. Or with the locative: Niliandika maagizo ya mwalimu ubaoni.

Any pronunciation tips for tricky parts like mwalimu, agizo, ubao?

mwalimu: mwah-LEE-moo (the mw cluster starts the first syllable).
agizo: ah-GEE-zo (hard g as in “go”).
ubao: oo-BAH-oh (the ao is two vowels in sequence). Stress is typically on the penultimate syllable.