Leo asubuhi, mimi nilienda posta.

This morning, I went to the post office.

Breakdown of Leo asubuhi, mimi nilienda posta.

• mimi: I
• kwenda: to go
• posta: the post office
• leo asubuhi: this morning

Questions & Answers about Leo asubuhi, mimi nilienda posta.

Is the pronoun mimi necessary here?

No. The verb already marks the subject. In nilienda, the prefix ni- means “I,” so you can drop mimi unless you want emphasis or contrast. With emphasis: Mimi nilienda, si yeye. Neutral: Leo asubuhi nilienda posta.

What exactly does nilienda consist of?

• ni- = 1st person singular subject
• -li- = past tense marker
• -enda = verb stem “go” So ni-li-enda = “I went.”
  Related forms:
• Negative past: sikuenda
• Present: naenda
• Future: nitaenda

Why is it nilienda and not nilikwenda?

Because the “ku/kw-” of the infinitive (ku/kwenda) is not part of the finite verb stem. In conjugation, the stem is -enda, so the past is nilienda. The form nilikwenda is a hypercorrection and is not standard.

I’ve seen both kwenda and kuenda in dictionaries. Which is right?

Both are accepted infinitive spellings. Many dictionaries prefer kwenda; some show kuenda. In finite forms, you’ll still use the stem -enda (e.g., naenda, nilienda). Pick one infinitive spelling and be consistent.

What about the perfect: nimeenda vs nimekwenda?

Both occur. In modern everyday speech you’ll hear nimeenda very often. Nimekwenda also exists and can sound a bit more formal or traditional in some regions. Either is understood.

Should it be posta or postani?

• postani (with the locative -ni) is the textbook-clear way to mark location/destination: nilienda postani.
• posta (without -ni) is also widely used in everyday speech to mean the place: nilienda posta.
  Alternatives:
• nilienda kwenye posta (“went to/at the post office” with a preposition)
• nilienda ofisi ya posta (“post office” literally)

Do I need a preposition like “to” before posta?

No. Swahili usually marks location/direction with the locative suffix -ni (e.g., postani) or a locative preposition such as kwenye. A bare noun like posta can also work idiomatically with motion verbs like -enda.

Can I move the time expression leo asubuhi to other positions?

Yes. Common and natural options include:

• Leo asubuhi nilienda posta.
• Nilienda posta leo asubuhi. Fronting the time phrase often adds a gentle emphasis to when it happened.

Is the comma after Leo asubuhi required?

No. It’s optional and reflects a natural pause. You can write either:

• Leo asubuhi, nilienda posta.
• Leo asubuhi nilienda posta.

Is leo asubuhi the only way to say “this morning”?

No. Other common options:

• asubuhi ya leo (explicit “the morning of today,” a bit more formal/explicit)
• asubuhi hii (“this morning,” deictic “this”) All are natural; leo asubuhi is very common in conversation.

Where can I put mimi if I want to emphasize “I”?

Several places are possible, each adding emphasis:

• Mimi leo asubuhi nilienda posta.
• Leo asubuhi mimi nilienda posta.
• Nilienda posta mimi leo asubuhi. (less common, but used for strong focus at the end)

How do I make the sentence negative?

Use the negative past with si- and -ku- on the verb:

• Leo asubuhi sikuenda posta. Note that the past -li- changes to -ku- under negation.

Any capitalization tips for this sentence?

• Leo is capitalized only because it starts the sentence; otherwise leo is lower-case.
• Time-of-day nouns like asubuhi are lower-case.
• Proper nouns get capitals; common time words do not.

Can I add more detail about time or sequence?

Yes. You can:

• Add clock time: Leo asubuhi saa mbili nilienda posta.
• Chain actions with the narrative -ka-: Nilinunua bahasha, nikaenda posta. (past event “then went”)