Breakdown of Nitafanya kazi hii mwenyewe leo jioni.
mimi
I
kazi
the work
kufanya
to do
hii
this
leo jioni
this evening
mwenyewe
myself
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Questions & Answers about Nitafanya kazi hii mwenyewe leo jioni.
How is the verb form Nitafanya built?
It’s one word made of prefixes + a verb root:
- ni- = I (subject prefix, 1st person singular)
- -ta- = future tense marker (will)
- fanya = do/make So ni-ta-fanya = “I will do.”
Can I use Nafanya here instead of Nitafanya?
No. Nafanya uses the present/habitual marker -na- (“I am doing / I do”), while Nitafanya uses the future -ta- (“I will do”). They’re not interchangeable.
Does mwenyewe refer to the work (kazi) or to the subject (“I”)?
Here it emphasizes the subject (“I myself / by myself”). If it were referring to kazi (class 9), it would be yenyewe (agreement with the noun class), not mwenyewe.
How would I say “the work itself (the actual work)”?
Use class agreement with kazi (class 9): kazi yenyewe. Example: “Tuzungumzie kazi yenyewe” = “Let’s talk about the work itself.”
What’s the difference between mwenyewe and peke yangu?
- mwenyewe = “myself” (emphasis on the person doing it personally). It can imply either “personally” or “alone,” depending on context.
- peke yangu = “by myself/alone” (explicitly no one else involved). Both fit here, but peke yangu focuses more on being alone.
Where can I place mwenyewe in the sentence?
Common, natural options:
- End position: Nitafanya kazi hii mwenyewe (very common).
- After an explicit subject: Mimi mwenyewe nitafanya kazi hii (strong emphasis).
- After the verb without an object: Nitafanya mwenyewe (“I’ll do it myself”). Placing it after the object, as in your sentence, is very idiomatic.
Can I start with the time phrase?
Yes. Leo jioni nitafanya kazi hii mwenyewe is perfectly natural and slightly emphasizes the time.
What does jioni cover, and why add leo?
jioni = late afternoon/evening (roughly ~4–7/8 pm; boundaries vary by region). Adding leo clarifies it’s “this evening (today).” Jioni alone can mean “in the evening(s)” or rely on context for “this evening.”
What’s the difference between jioni and usiku?
- jioni = evening/late afternoon (before night).
- usiku = night (after dark). If it’s later at night, say leo usiku instead of leo jioni.
Why is it kazi hii and not hii kazi?
Standard Swahili places demonstratives after the noun: kazi hii (“this work”). Fronting (hii kazi) occurs in speech for emphasis or in exclamations, but the neutral order is noun + demonstrative.
Can I include an object marker in the verb: Nitaifanya kazi hii mwenyewe?
Yes: Ni-ta-(I will) + -i- (object marker for class 9, agreeing with kazi) + fanya. So Nitaifanya = “I will do it.” Using both the object marker and the full noun (Nitaifanya kazi hii) is common when the object is specific/known/emphasized. Some teachers prefer avoiding “double marking” in very formal grammar drills, but it’s widely used in real Swahili.
What’s the negative future of this sentence?
Sitafanya kazi hii mwenyewe leo jioni. Here si- is the 1st person negative subject prefix, replacing ni-; the -ta- future stays.
How do I make it plural: “these tasks”?
kazi is class 9/10 with the same singular/plural form. Use a plural demonstrative: kazi hizi = “these tasks.”
How would I ask, “Will you do this work yourself this evening?”
- Neutral: Utafanya kazi hii mwenyewe leo jioni?
- With the question particle: Je, utafanya kazi hii mwenyewe leo jioni?
Any quick pronunciation tips?
- ny in fanya is a single sound [ɲ], like Spanish ñ in “caña” or “ny” in “canyon.”
- j in jioni is like English “j” in “jam.”
- Vowels are pure and short: Ni-ta-fa-nya ka-zi hi-i jio-ni (each vowel pronounced).