Learn Hardcore Swahili: Leo tutafanya mazoezi mafupi ya kusikiliza, kisha tutaandika majibu kwa sentensi fupi. - Today we will do short listening exercises, then we will write the answers in short sentences.

In Swahili, future tense is formed with -ta- inserted between the subject marker and the verb stem (e.g. nitaenda = I will go, utaona = you will see, watafanya = they will do).

Why is it mazoezi mafupi and not just mazoezi fupi?

In Swahili, adjectives agree with the noun class of the noun they describe.

mazoezi (exercises, practice) is in noun class 6 (ma– class).
The adjective -fupi (short) takes the class 6 agreement prefix ma- in the plural.

So:

Class 6 prefix for adjectives: ma-
Adjective root: -fupi
→ mafupi

Therefore:

mazoezi mafupi = short exercises / a short exercise session

You don’t say mazoezi fupi because the adjective would be missing the correct agreement marker for that noun class.

But the meaning is “a short listening exercise”. Why is mazoezi (plural) used instead of zoezi (singular)?

Literally:

zoezi = exercise (singular)
mazoezi = exercises / practice (plural)

However, mazoezi is very commonly used to mean:

practice, drills, or an exercise session, even when English would use the singular.

So mazoezi mafupi ya kusikiliza can naturally be understood as:

a short listening exercise or
a short listening practice session

Using zoezi fupi la kusikiliza would be grammatically correct for “a short listening exercise”, but in real usage, mazoezi is often preferred, especially for classroom activities, practice tasks, etc.

What is the role of ya in mazoezi mafupi ya kusikiliza?

Ya is a possessive/relational marker meaning roughly “of”, and it must agree with the noun class of the head noun.

Head noun: mazoezi (class 6)
Class 6 “of” form is ya
kusikiliza = to listen / listening (infinitive verb used as a noun)

So:

mazoezi mafupi ya kusikiliza = short exercises of listening → short listening exercises

The pattern is:

[noun] + [adjective] + ya + [verb in ku- form]
mazoezi mafupi ya kusoma – short reading exercises
mazoezi magumu ya kuandika – difficult writing exercises

What’s the difference between kusikiliza and kusikia here?

Both relate to hearing, but they’re used differently:

kusikiliza = to listen (actively, paying attention)
kusikia = to hear (perceive sound, not necessarily actively listening)

In a learning context, listening practice emphasises deliberate attention, so kusikiliza is the natural choice.

So:

mazoezi ya kusikiliza = listening exercises (active skill)
kusikia would feel odd here, like “exercises of hearing” rather than “listening practice”

What does kisha mean, and how is it different from halafu?

Kisha means “then / afterwards”, expressing sequence:

… mazoezi mafupi ya kusikiliza, kisha tutaandika majibu … → “… short listening exercises, then we will write the answers …”

Kisha and halafu are very close in meaning:

kisha is often perceived as a bit more formal / written or neutral.
halafu is very common in speech and informal contexts.

You could say:

… mazoezi mafupi ya kusikiliza, halafu tutaandika majibu … and it would still sound natural.

Why is tutaandika used (future) instead of a present tense form?

The sentence describes a sequence of planned actions today:

We will do short listening exercises.
Then we will write the answers.

So both verbs use future:

tutafanya – we will do
tutaandika – we will write

Using the present (tunafanya, tunaandika) would sound more like describing a habitual routine (“we do this and then we write”) instead of a plan for today. Because Leo (today) plus the -ta- future marker makes it clear that this is a scheduled plan for today, the future is appropriate.

Why is there no word for “the” in majibu? How do we know it means “the answers” and not just “answers”?

Swahili generally does not use separate words for “the” or “a/an”. Nouns are usually bare:

majibu can mean answers, the answers, or some answers, depending on context.

Here, it is clear from context:

We do an exercise, and then we write the answers to that exercise.

So majibu is naturally interpreted as “the answers” in English, even though Swahili does not mark definiteness explicitly. English articles are often just added in translation based on context.

What does kwa mean in kwa sentensi fupi, and why not katika sentensi fupi?

Kwa is a very flexible preposition. Here, it indicates manner or means:

kwa sentensi fupi = in/using short sentences, i.e. “your answers should take the form of short sentences.”

Substituting katika:

katika sentensi fupi literally: in a short sentence
- This sounds more like being inside a particular sentence and is less natural for “answer in short sentences” instructions.

In instructions like this, kwa is often used to express:

the form, style, or means you should use:
- andika kwa Kiswahili – write in Swahili
- jibu kwa maneno machache – answer in a few words
- jibu kwa sentensi fupi – answer in short sentences

Why is it sentensi fupi, not sentensi mafupi, even though there will be several sentences?

Two things are happening:

Noun class and adjective agreement
- sentensi is in noun class 9/10 (same form for singular and plural).
- The adjective -fupi in class 9/10 has no extra prefix; it just appears as fupi.
- So for both singular and plural, you see:
  - sentensi fupi – short sentence / short sentences
Number is taken from context
Swahili does not always mark plural overtly in this class. Context tells you whether it is one short sentence or several short sentences.

Here, the instruction jibu kwa sentensi fupi is naturally understood as:

“Answer using short sentences” (plural), even though the form sentensi and fupi do not change.

Why is the subject marker tu- repeated in tutafanya and tutaandika? Could we just say it once?

In Swahili, each finite verb must carry its own subject marker, even within the same sentence.

So you need:

Leo tutafanya …, kisha tutaandika …
- tutafanya – we will do
- tutaandika – we will write

You cannot drop tu- in the second verb; a form like kisha taandika is ungrammatical.

Contrast with English:

“Today we will do a short listening exercise, then (we will) write the answers.”
English can omit “we will” the second time; Swahili cannot omit the subject marker on the second verb.

Can Leo (today) move to a different position in the sentence?

Yes, Leo is flexible in position, though the nuance shifts slightly.

All of these are grammatical:

Leo tutafanya mazoezi mafupi ya kusikiliza, kisha tutaandika majibu kwa sentensi fupi.
→ neutral, common: “Today, we will…”
Tutafanya mazoezi mafupi ya kusikiliza leo, kisha tutaandika majibu kwa sentensi fupi.
→ emphasizes the activity, adding “today” at the end.
Tutafanya leo mazoezi mafupi ya kusikiliza, kisha tutaandika majibu kwa sentensi fupi.
→ possible, but a bit less natural; Leo normally goes at the beginning or the very end.

The first version (with Leo at the very start) is the most typical and clear in instructional contexts.

Why isn’t there an object marker on the verb for majibu (answers), like yatayaandika or similar?

In Swahili, you only need an object marker when:

The object is already known/definite and you want to emphasize it, or
The object comes before the verb, or
You’re following certain stylistic patterns.

Here, the basic pattern [verb] + [object] is enough:

tutaandika majibu – we will write answers / the answers

An object marker would look like:

tutayandika majibu – we will write them, the answers
- ya- = object marker for class 6 (matching majibu)

This is also grammatical, but:

It sounds more emphatic or redundant in such a simple sentence.
The plain tutaandika majibu is more natural as a simple instruction.