Learn Hardcore Swahili: Warsha ya jioni itakuwa fupi; usije ukakosa sehemu ya mwisho. - The evening workshop will be short; don’t end up missing the last part.

Ya is the associative linker “of” that agrees with the head noun warsha. Warsha is in noun class 9 (N-class), whose associative is ya. So Warsha ya jioni = “workshop of the evening / the evening workshop.” Other classes take different forms, e.g. class 7: kitabu cha …, class 5: gari la …, class 1 (human): mtu wa ….

Is jioni acting like a noun or a time adverb here? Could I say Warsha jioni instead?

In Warsha ya jioni, jioni is a noun (“evening”) inside a noun phrase: “workshop of the evening,” i.e., the evening workshop. You can also say Warsha jioni itakuwa fupi (“The workshop [happening] in the evening will be short”), with jioni as a time adverb. The ya version makes a tighter NP (“evening workshop”), while bare jioni sounds more like a time adjunct.

Why does itakuwa start with i- and not a-?

The subject prefix agrees with the noun class of warsha (class 9), which uses i- for non-human subjects. A- is for class 1 (singular humans). Hence: Warsha itakuwa… but Mtu atakuwa…

How is itakuwa formed?

It’s morphologically: i- + -ta- + -kuwa = subject (class 9) + future + verb “be.” So itakuwa = “it will be.”

Does the adjective fupi need any agreement marking with warsha?

For many common adjectives in class 9/10 (N-class), the surface form doesn’t take an extra prefix. So warsha fupi is correct, just like nyumba kubwa, barua ndefu. The agreement is understood by context and the subject prefix on the verb.

What exactly does the construction usije ukakosa mean?

It’s a cautionary/warning construction: “don’t end up (accidentally/unintentionally) missing …,” roughly “lest you miss ….” It’s softer and more about preventing an undesirable outcome than a blunt prohibition.

But kuja means “to come.” Why is usije (“don’t come”) here if we’re not talking about movement?

In this idiom, usije (negative subjunctive of kuja) has grammaticalized into a cautionary device: usije ukafanya… = “don’t end up doing … / lest you do ….” It doesn’t literally mean “don’t come” here; it flags a potential unwanted result.

Why ukakosa with -ka- and not ukose?

The -ka- is the consecutive marker, often used after usije to express a subsequent or unintended consequence: “and (then) you miss.” Ukose (subjunctive) can occur, but ukakosa is idiomatic and highlights the “end up (doing X)” feel.

Could I just say Usikose sehemu ya mwisho?

Yes. Usikose… is a straightforward negative imperative: “Don’t miss…” It’s more direct. Usije ukakosa… adds a nuance of “make sure you don’t (by accident/for some reason) miss…,” a bit more cautionary or advisory in tone.

What does sehemu ya mwisho refer to?

Literally “the last/final part.” In context, it’s the final segment/session of the workshop. Sehemu = part/section; mwisho = end/last/final; ya agrees with sehemu (class 9).

How is sehemu ya mwisho different from mwisho wa warsha?

Sehemu ya mwisho highlights the final section (a chunk of content).
Mwisho wa warsha is “the end of the workshop” (the ending point or closing). Both are fine, but the nuance differs slightly.

Is the semicolon normal here? Could I use something else?

Yes, it’s fine stylistically. You could also use a period or a connector:

Warsha ya jioni itakuwa fupi. Usije ukakosa sehemu ya mwisho.
… itakuwa fupi, hivyo usije ukakosa …
… itakuwa fupi; basi usije ukakosa …

What are the plural forms if I want “evening workshops” and address several people?

Noun/adjective/linker agreement switches to class 10:
- Warsha za jioni zitakuwa fupi; msije mkakosa sehemu za mwisho.
  - za (assoc. for class 10), zi- (subject prefix), msije (2nd pl. negative subj.), mkakosa (2nd pl. consecutive), and plural sehemu za mwisho if you mean multiple final parts (one per workshop).

Can you break down the morphology of the tricky bits?

itakuwa = i- (class 9 subject) + -ta- (future) + -kuwa (be).
usije = u- (2sg) + -si- (negative) + subjunctive of kuja (“come”) → cautionary “lest…”.
ukakosa = u- (2sg) + -ka- (consecutive) + kosa (miss, fail to get).
ya (in both ya jioni and ya mwisho) agrees with class 9 heads (warsha, sehemu).