mradi

Provided That with Mradi

Level 4

The word mradi (often paired with tu as mradi tu) means "provided that," "as long as," or "on condition that." It introduces a strict prerequisite that must be met for the main clause to happen.

How It Works

Understanding how to use mradi correctly depends on the nature of the condition you are setting:

1. With the Subjunctive (Required Actions)
When the condition is a hypothetical action or a future requirement, the verb in the dependent clause must take the subjunctive mood (ending in -e). Syntactically, mradi asome literally translates to "the desire/goal [is that] he study."
Example: Utapata pesa mradi ufanye kazi. (You will get money provided you work.)

2. With the Indicative (Ongoing States or Facts)
Some strict grammars claim mradi must always take the subjunctive, but modern Swahili readily accepts the indicative mood (like the Present -na- or Have with kuwa na) when the condition refers to an ongoing state, possession, or established fact.
Example: Unaweza kuingia mradi una tiketi. (You can enter as long as you have a ticket.)

3. The Emphatic "mradi tu"
To emphasize the strictness of the condition, mradi is very frequently paired with the particle Only or Just with tu, translating to "just as long as" or "only provided that."

4. Distinguishing from the Noun
Do not confuse the conjunction mradi with the Class 3 noun mradi (plural: miradi), which means "project." Context makes this clear, as the noun will take Classes 3 and 4 agreement markers (e.g., mradi huu - this project).

5. Common Variants
You will frequently encounter the variants ilimradi and alimradi. These are direct, interchangeable synonyms for the conjunction mradi (retaining the Arabic definite article 'al-'). For example, Unaweza kuingia ilimradi una tiketi means exactly the same thing.

Examples (4)

Atapata kazi nzuri mradi asome kwa bidii.
He will get a good job, provided he studies hard.
Word by Word: He will get job good provided he study with effort.
Uses the subjunctive (asome) because studying is a required future action that must be fulfilled.
Tunaweza kusoma popote, mradi tu mahali hapo pawe kimya.
We can study anywhere, just as long as that place is quiet.
Word by Word: We can to study anywhere, provided just place that it be quiet.
The emphatic 'mradi tu' is used with the subjunctive of kuwa (pawe) to set a strict environmental condition.
Unaweza kutuma ujumbe popote ulipo, mradi tu una data.
You can send a message wherever you are, as long as you have data.
Word by Word: You can to send message anywhere you are, provided just you have data.
Uses the indicative (una) because having data is an ongoing state of possession, not a hypothetical action.
Nitakusaidia na mradi huu, mradi ufuate maagizo yangu.
I will help you with this project, provided you follow my instructions.
Word by Word: I will help you with project this, provided you follow instructions my.
Notice the difference between the noun mradi (project) and the conjunction mradi (provided that) which triggers the subjunctive ufuate.

Common Mistakes

Using the present indicative instead of the subjunctive for unfulfilled or required actions.
Utafaulu mtihani mradi unasoma sana.
Utafaulu mtihani mradi usome sana.
Because English uses the present tense for conditions ('provided you study'), learners often default to the Swahili present tense (-na-). However, for required actions that haven't happened yet, mradi requires the subjunctive mood (-e).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

mradiLevel 4Provided That with Mradi

Learn This First

To use 'mradi' (provided that), learners need to understand how to form conditional sentences in Swahili. Since 'mradi' often triggers the subjunctive mood in the following clause, familiarity with the -e final vowel is essential. Additionally, a general understanding of how conjunctions connect two clauses in standard word order is required.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

alimradiSo Long asLevel 4

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