Learn Hardcore Swahili: Nitakuja kuchukua barua kesho asubuhi. - I will come to pick up the letter tomorrow morning.

ni- = I (subject marker)
-ta- = future tense marker
-kuja = come
ku- = infinitive marker
-chukua = take/pick up So Nitakuja kuchukua = I will come to pick up. In Swahili, these parts attach to the verb with no spaces.

Why are there two verbs in a row?

Swahili often chains a movement/intention verb with an infinitive to express purpose: kuja/kwenda + ku-verb. Nitakuja kuchukua literally means I will come in order to pick up.

Can I just say Nitachukua barua kesho asubuhi?

Yes. That simply states you will pick up the letter tomorrow morning. Nitakuja kuchukua… adds that you will come (to the listener’s place or a shared location) to do it.

Should I use kuja or kwenda here?

Use kuja (come) when the action is toward the listener or a shared meeting place.
Use kwenda (go) when it’s away from them. Examples: Nitakuja kuchukua barua… vs Nitaenda kuchukua barua…

Where does the time phrase go? Can I front it?

Default is at the end, but fronting for emphasis is common:

Default: Nitakuja kuchukua barua kesho asubuhi.
Fronted: Kesho asubuhi nitakuja kuchukua barua. Both are correct.

Is kesho asubuhi the only option? What about asubuhi ya kesho?

Both are natural:

kesho asubuhi = tomorrow morning (very common)
asubuhi ya kesho = the morning of tomorrow (a bit more formal) asubuhi kesho is uncommon.

How do I add a clock time?

Put it after the time-of-day:

… kesho asubuhi saa tatu. Note Swahili time starts at 7 a.m. as hour one:
saa moja asubuhi = 7 a.m.
saa tatu asubuhi = 9 a.m. You can approximate with kama saa tatu (around nine).

Is barua singular or plural here?

It can be either. barua (noun class 9/10) has the same form for singular and plural; context decides. To be explicit:

One letter: barua moja
Several letters: barua mbili/tatu… Definite forms use modifiers, e.g., barua hiyo (that letter) or barua hizo (those letters).

How do I say “the letter,” “that letter,” or “your letter”?

Use demonstratives or possessives (agreeing with class 9/10):

This/that letter: barua hii / barua hiyo / barua ile
Your letter: barua yako (singular you)
My letters: barua zangu (plural agreement switches to z-)

Can I use an object marker like kuichukua?

Yes:

Nitakuja kuichukua barua or simply Nitakuja kuichukua (omitting the noun). The class 9 object marker is i-: ku-i-chukua → kuichukua. If you keep the noun after the verb, many speakers drop the object marker unless the object is definite/topical. Neutral and safe: …kuchukua barua.

Could I say Nitakujia barua? What would that mean?

Yes, but it’s different:

Nitakujia barua = I will come to you for the letter. Here -ku- is the object marker for “you,” and -jia is the applicative of kuja meaning “come for/to.”

Why kuchukua and not kuleta, kupokea, or kuokota?

kuchukua = take/collect/pick up (e.g., from the post office)
kuleta = bring (toward the listener/speaker)
kupokea = receive (someone hands it to you)
kuokota = pick up off the ground (find and pick up) For collecting mail, kuchukua is the normal choice.

How do I negate this?

Use the negative subject prefix before the future marker:

Sitakuja kuchukua barua kesho asubuhi. = I will not come to pick up the letter tomorrow morning. Without “come”: Sitachukua barua kesho asubuhi.

How do I say “I’m coming to pick up the letter (now)”?

Use the present/progressive:

Nakuja/Ninakuja kuchukua barua. = I’m coming to pick up the letter. Stronger: Niko njiani kuja kuchukua barua. = I’m on the way to come pick up the letter.

Do I need a preposition like “in” before “morning”?

No. asubuhi already means “in the morning.” Similarly: mchana (in the afternoon), jioni (in the evening), usiku (at night). So kesho asubuhi is complete.

Why isn’t it kwachukua? When does ku- become kw-?

The infinitive ku- becomes kw- before vowel-initial verb stems (e.g., kwenda from ku-enda). chukua starts with a consonant, so it stays kuchukua.