Learn Hardcore Swahili: Mwalimu mkuu aliweka tarehe ya mwisho ya kazi ya uandishi. - The headteacher set the deadline for the writing assignment.

mwalimu = teacher (class 1 noun for a person)
mkuu = chief, head, main; used adjectivally after the noun Together, mwalimu mkuu means the head teacher or principal. Word order is noun + adjective (adjectives follow nouns in Swahili).

How is the verb aliweka built, and what does it convey?

a- = subject prefix for class 1 (he/she)
-li- = past tense marker
-weka = verb root (put/place/set) So aliweka means he/she set/put (in the past).

Could I say ameweka or akaweka instead of aliweka? What changes?

ameweka = present perfect (he/she has set), often recent or relevant now.
akaweka = narrative/sequential (and then he/she set), used to chain past actions.
aliweka = simple past (he/she set), neutral past narrative.

Why is ya used twice in tarehe ya mwisho ya kazi ya uandishi?

Because ya is the associative marker agreeing with the head nouns tarehe and kazi, both of which are class 9 (N-class). In an X-of-Y chain, the connector agrees with the leftmost head noun each time:

tarehe (cl.9) ya mwisho
kazi (cl.9) ya uandishi

Why not use wa or la instead of ya here?

The associative marker depends on the head noun’s class:

Class 1 (m-/wa- person singular): wa (e.g., mwalimu wa…)
Class 3 (m- singular): wa (e.g., mti wa…)
Class 4 (mi- plural): ya
Class 5 (ji-/∅ singular): la
Class 6 (ma- plural): ya
Class 7/8 (ki-/vi-): cha/vya
Class 9/10 (N/N): ya/za Here, tarehe and kazi are class 9, so use ya (or za in plural).

Is tarehe ya mwisho really the normal way to say deadline?

Yes. Common options for deadline:

tarehe ya mwisho (final date)
muda wa mwisho (final time/limit) Often expanded for clarity: tarehe ya mwisho ya kuwasilisha (deadline for submitting).

Should I add something like kuwasilisha to make it sound more natural?

It’s often more explicit to say what the deadline is for:

Mwalimu mkuu aliweka tarehe ya mwisho ya kuwasilisha kazi ya uandishi. This means the teacher set the submission deadline for the writing assignment.

What does kazi ya uandishi mean? Is insha better for school contexts?

kazi ya uandishi = a writing task/work; broad and formal.
insha = composition/essay (very common in schools). For a school essay, insha is often the most natural: tarehe ya mwisho ya insha.

Can I say kazi ya kuandika instead of kazi ya uandishi?

Yes. kazi ya kuandika (a writing task) is clear and colloquial. uandishi is a nominalized form (the activity/art of writing) and can sound broader or more formal.

Is the word order with multiple ya phrases natural, or should I rearrange?

It’s natural. Swahili stacks associative phrases from the head outward:

tarehe [ya mwisho] [ya kazi [ya uandishi]] If it feels heavy, expand for clarity:
tarehe ya mwisho ya kuwasilisha kazi ya uandishi/insha

Why does ya agree with tarehe and kazi, not with uandishi?

In associative constructions, agreement is with the head noun (the left noun), not the complement. So:

tarehe (cl.9) ya mwisho
kazi (cl.9) ya uandishi (cl.14) Even though uandishi is class 14, the connector is set by kazi, hence ya.

How do I pluralize phrases like these?

tarehe (cl.9/10): singular = tarehe, plural = tarehe
- Associative changes to plural form za: tarehe za mwisho
kazi (cl.9/10): singular = kazi, plural = kazi
- kazi za uandishi
Full plural object phrase: tarehe za mwisho za kazi za uandishi

How do I pluralize mwalimu mkuu and keep agreement?

Singular: mwalimu mkuu aliweka… (subject prefix a- → aliweka)
Plural: walimu wakuu waliweka… (subject prefix wa- → waliweka) Note the adjective also pluralizes: mkuu → wakuu.

Why is there no word for the in the sentence?

Swahili has no articles (no the/a). Definiteness is inferred from context. Mwalimu mkuu aliweka… can mean the head teacher set… (context supplies definiteness).

Could I add an object marker for tarehe?

Yes, for known/topical objects you can add the class 9 object marker -i-:

aliiweka tarehe ya mwisho… (he/she set it—the deadline…) Use this when tarehe is already known in context; otherwise, it’s fine to omit.

Are there other verbs besides weka for setting a deadline?

Yes, depending on nuance:

weka (set/put) – very common and natural
pang(a) (schedule/plan): kupanga tarehe ya mwisho
teua (appoint/designate) – more formal
tangaza (announce) – when emphasizing making it public

What are the noun classes of the key nouns here?

mwalimu: class 1 (person)
mkuu: adjective agreeing with class 1 (plural wakuu)
tarehe: class 9/10 (N-class)
mwisho: class 3 (singular; plural class 4 miisho)
kazi: class 9/10 (N-class)
uandishi: class 14 (u- abstract/activity noun)

Is mwisho wa tarehe a good way to say deadline?

Not really. mwisho wa tarehe reads as the end of a date/period. For deadline use tarehe ya mwisho or muda wa mwisho (wa kuwasilisha).

Any pronunciation tips for tricky parts like mwalimu, tarehe, uandishi?

mwa- in mwalimu is a single syllable [mwa], like mwah-LEE-moo.
tarehe has clear vowels: ta-RE-he; pronounce the h.
uandishi: u-an-DI-shi; keep vowels distinct and sh as in English “she.”