Kabla hujaandika jibu, zidisha kwanza mbili kwa tano.

Yes, by itself hujaandika normally means you haven’t written.

But after kabla, Swahili often uses this negative-perfect form to mean before someone does something.

So:

• hujaandika = you haven’t written
• kabla hujaandika jibu = before you write the answer

This is a very common pattern in Swahili:

• Kabla hujaenda = Before you go
• Kabla hujalala = Before you sleep / before you go to sleep

So even though the verb looks negative, after kabla it often translates naturally as before you ... rather than before you haven’t ....

Yes. Both are possible.

• Kabla hujaandika jibu = Before you write the answer
• Kabla ya kuandika jibu = Before writing the answer / before you write the answer

The version with kabla ya + ku-verb is often a little more neutral and textbook-like.
The version with kabla + huja-... is also very common and natural.

So both are good Swahili, and learners should recognize both patterns.

It can be broken down like this:

• hu- = negative subject marker for you singular
• -ja- = perfect marker in negative constructions
• -andika = write

So:

• hujaandika = you have not written

In this sentence, because it comes after kabla, the whole clause means before you write.

Because Swahili usually puts the subject inside the verb.

In hujaandika, the you is already included.
In zidisha, the command is directed to you singular, so Swahili does not need to say wewe.

Compare:

• Unaandika = You are writing
• Hujaandika = You haven’t written
• Andika! = Write!
• Zidisha! = Multiply!

Swahili often leaves out separate subject pronouns unless they are needed for emphasis.

Zidisha is the singular imperative, meaning Multiply!

It is a command addressed to one person.

So:

• zidisha = multiply! (to one person)
• zidisheni = multiply! (to more than one person)

In this sentence, the speaker is telling one person what to do first.

Kwanza means first.

In Swahili, adverbs like this often come after the verb:

• zidisha kwanza = first multiply

This word order is very natural. Swahili frequently places the action first and then the adverb.

You may also see kwanza in other positions for emphasis, but zidisha kwanza is normal everyday Swahili.

In multiplication, Swahili commonly uses kwa for by:

• mbili kwa tano = two by five
• nne kwa tatu = four by three

So in math language:

• zidisha mbili kwa tano = multiply two by five

Here kwa links the two numbers in the multiplication expression.

Here it means 2 × 5, because the verb zidisha already tells you the operation is multiplication.

So:

• zidisha mbili kwa tano = multiply 2 by 5

If the sentence were about division, it would use a different verb, such as gawa or another division-related expression, not zidisha.

Swahili does not have articles like English the and a/an.

So jibu can mean:

• answer
• the answer
• sometimes an answer

The exact meaning comes from context.

In this sentence, the context clearly makes it the answer:

• Kabla hujaandika jibu = Before you write the answer

Both are possible, but they mean slightly different things.

• andika jibu = write the answer
• andika jibu lako = write your answer

In many situations, jibu by itself is enough, because it is obvious whose answer is meant. Swahili often leaves out possessives when the meaning is already clear from context.

So the sentence sounds natural without lako.

It is a command to one person.

You can tell from zidisha, which is the singular imperative.

If the speaker were talking to several people, you would expect:

• Kabla hamjaandika jibu, zidisheni kwanza mbili kwa tano.

So the original sentence is addressed to one learner or one listener.

The sentence has two parts:

1. Kabla hujaandika jibu
   = Before you write the answer

2. zidisha kwanza mbili kwa tano
   = first multiply two by five

So the structure is:

• time clause
  • main command

This is a very common pattern in Swahili:

• Kabla ... , fanya ...
• Before ... , do ...

A more word-for-word gloss would be something like:

• Kabla = before
• hujaandika = you have not yet written
• jibu = answer
• zidisha = multiply
• kwanza = first
• mbili kwa tano = two by five

So very literally, it is close to:

Before you have written the answer, first multiply two by five.

But natural English is:

Before you write the answer, first multiply two by five.