Learn Hardcore Swahili: Mwalimu ananiandikia ujumbe na kuniomba nimwandikie katibu orodha ya wageni. - The teacher writes me a message and asks me to write the guest list for the secretary.

a- = he/she (3rd person singular subject marker)
-na- = present/imperfective (“is/does”)
-ni- = me (1st person singular object marker)
-andika = write (verb root)
-ia = applicative suffix “to/for (someone)” So ananiandikia literally encodes “he/she is writing to/for me.”

Why is it -andikia and not just -andika?

The suffix -ia is the applicative (also called “applied”) extension. It changes the verb to allow a recipient/beneficiary as an object. Kuandika = to write (something). Kuandikia = to write (something) to/for someone. Because the teacher is writing a message to you, the applicative is used.

Does ananiandikia require me to mention what is being written (e.g., ujumbe)?

No. Ananiandikia already means “(s/he) is writing to me.” You can say:

Mwalimu ananiandikia. (The teacher is writing to me.)
Mwalimu ananiandikia ujumbe. (…a message.) Adding ujumbe just specifies what is being written.

Could I say the same idea without the applicative by using a preposition?

Yes. Alternatives include:

Mwalimu anaandika ujumbe kwangu. (writes a message to me)
Mwalimu anaandikia ujumbe kwangu. (still with applicative plus a preposition; also acceptable) Using the applicative alone (ananiandikia) is the most compact.

What’s the difference between -na- inside ananiandikia and the standalone na before kuniomba?

-na- is a tense/aspect marker inside the verb meaning present/imperfective.
na (separate word) is the coordinating conjunction “and” (it can also mean “with” in other contexts). So: a- -na- -ni- andik-ia vs. … ujumbe na …

Why is it na kuniomba and not just na ananiomba?

Both are possible:

… na kuniomba … = “… and (to) ask me …” (uses the infinitive after “and,” avoiding a repeated tense marker)
… na ananiomba … = “… and (he/she) asks me …” (repeats the finite verb) The infinitive version is stylistically smooth when the subject stays the same.

How is kuniomba formed?

ku- = infinitive “to”
-ni- = me (object marker)
-omba = ask/request/pray So kuniomba = “to ask me.”

Why does nimwandikie end with -e?

The -e final vowel marks the subjunctive. After verbs of asking/requesting (e.g., kuomba), the verb in the subordinate clause typically takes the subjunctive: … kuniomba nimwandikie … = “… asking me (that) I write to him/her …”

What are the parts of nimwandikie?

ni- = I (1st person singular subject)
m(w)- = him/her (3rd person singular object marker; it shows up as mw- before a vowel)
-andika = write (root)
-ie = applicative + subjunctive final vowel So nimwandikie = “that I write to him/her.”

Who does the object marker m- in nimwandikie refer to?

It refers to the person being written to—in this sentence, the katibu (secretary). The sentence also mentions katibu explicitly, so the object is both marked on the verb and repeated as a noun (a common and perfectly acceptable “resumptive” pattern in Swahili).

Is the m- in nimwandikie necessary if I say katibu right after?

It’s optional. You can say:

… kuniomba nimwandikie katibu … (with object marker; common, tends to imply a specific/known secretary)
… kuniomba niandikie katibu … (without object marker; also fine) Including the object marker often adds definiteness/topicality to the object.

Why is the order mwandikie katibu orodha ya wageni and not the other way round?

With applied verbs, it’s very common for the recipient (indirect object) to come before the thing written: recipient > thing. So:

(ni)mwandikie katibu orodha ya wageni = write to the secretary the guest list. Other orders are possible, especially if you use a preposition: niandike orodha ya wageni kwa katibu.

Why is it orodha ya wageni and not orodha wa wageni?

The connector “of” agrees with the head noun. Orodha is class 9/10, whose associative connector is ya. So orodha ya wageni (“list of guests”). Wa is used when the head noun is class 1/2 (people), which doesn’t apply here.

What are the relevant noun forms here (singular/plural)?

katibu (secretary): singular class 1; plural is makatibu (class 6).
mgeni (guest) → wageni (guests) (class 1/2).
orodha (list): class 9/10; same form for singular and plural; agreement shows in modifiers.

Could I say niandike instead of nimwandikie?

Not if you want to express “write to the secretary.” Niandike = “that I write (something).” To include the recipient, either use the applicative (niandikie katibu) or a preposition (niandike … kwa katibu). The form in the sentence (nimwandikie) also includes the object marker for “him/her.”

What does ujumbe contribute here? Is it like “message” or “letter”?

Ujumbe is “message” in general (could be a text, email, or any message). A “letter” is typically barua. So ananiandikia ujumbe = “is writing me a message.”

Is kuomba “to ask,” “to request,” or “to beg”?

All of those, depending on context. It’s the general verb for asking/requesting and can also mean “to pray.” Here it’s “to ask/request.”

Does a- mean specifically “he” or “she”?

It’s gender-neutral. a- is just third person singular; context tells you whether it’s “he” or “she.”

How would I negate the first clause “(The teacher) is writing me a message”?

Change the subject prefix to negative and the final vowel to -i, and drop -na-:

Mwalimu haniandikii (ujumbe). = “The teacher is not writing to me (a message).”

Could I express sequence (“… and then asked me …”) instead of simple “and”?

Yes. For explicit sequence, use an adverb like kisha/halafu:

Mwalimu ananiandikia ujumbe, kisha ananiomba nimwandikie … In narrative past, you often see the sequential -ka-: … aka(n)iomba … (then he asked me).