alimradi
So Long as
Alimradi (and its identical variant ilimradi) means 'provided that' or 'so long as'. It introduces a specific condition that must be met for the main action to happen.
How It Works
1. Mood Selection: Subjunctive vs. Indicative
The verb following alimradi changes depending on the reality of the condition:
- Hypothetical or Future: Use the Subjunctive -e. This is the most common usage, setting a requirement that hasn't happened yet (e.g., alimradi asome - provided she studies).
- Established Facts: Use indicative tenses (like the Present -na- or Perfect -me-) if the condition is already true, ongoing, or completed (e.g., alimradi umekamilisha kazi - provided you have completed the work).
2. Negation
When stipulating a negative condition ('provided it doesn't...'), the choice of negation follows the same logic as mood selection. Use the Negative Subjunctive for hypothetical or future conditions (e.g., alimradi isinyeshe). However, use standard negative indicative forms (like Present Negative Subject Forms) for established facts or current states (e.g., mradi huna malipo - provided you have no payments).
3. Variants, Register, and Common Usage
Alimradi and ilimradi are identical in meaning and completely interchangeable. You will also frequently see the shortened form, Provided That with mradi, which is perfectly acceptable in formal writing and standard Swahili, not just casual speech. Note that mradi is also the standard Class 3 noun for 'project' (plural miradi), so rely on context to distinguish the conjunction from the noun.
4. Adding 'tu'
These conjunctions are very often paired with the particle Only or Just with tu (e.g., alimradi tu or mradi tu) to emphasize the meaning 'just as long as' or 'provided only that'.
Examples (5)
- Nitakukopesha alimradi uahidi kunilipa mwisho wa mwezi.
I will lend you money provided you promise to pay me by the end of the month.
Word by Word: I will lend you provided you promise to pay me end of month.
Because the promise is a future requirement, the verb 'uahidi' (you promise) is in the subjunctive mood.
- Njoo tu ilimradi umekamilisha kazi yako.
Just come, provided you have completed your work.
Word by Word: Come just provided you have completed work your.
Here, the condition is a completed fact, so it uses the indicative perfect tense (-me-) rather than the subjunctive.
- Atapita mitihani yake alimradi asome kwa bidii.
She will pass her exams, provided she studies hard.
Word by Word: She will pass exams her provided she study with effort.
A classic future stipulation using the subjunctive 'asome'.
- Tutaenda ufukweni alimradi mvua isinyeshe.
We will go to the beach provided it doesn't rain.
Word by Word: We will go to beach provided rain it not rain.
Notice the use of the negative subjunctive ('isinyeshe') for a negative stipulation.
- Usijali, alimradi mkutano bado unaendelea.
Don't worry, provided the meeting is still going on.
Word by Word: Do not worry, provided meeting still it continues.
An example of an ongoing reality using the present indicative tense (-na-).
Common Mistakes
Using the negative indicative instead of the negative subjunctive for future stipulations.
Tutaondoka alimradi mvua hainyeshi.Tutaondoka alimradi mvua isinyeshe.When setting a negative requirement for the future ('provided it doesn't rain'), you must use the negative subjunctive (-si-), not the standard present negative.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Alimradi is a formal and literary conjunction meaning 'so long as' or 'provided that'. To use it effectively, learners should already be familiar with its base form 'mradi' and the conditional structures (like the -ki- tense or the subjunctive mood) that typically follow such conditional conjunctions.
- mradiProvided That with Mradi
Alimradi is a formal variant of the conjunction mradi, sharing the same core meaning of 'provided that' or 'so long as'.
Level 4 - -ki- (masharti)Conditional -ki-
Alimradi is frequently used to introduce conditional clauses, often paired with the -ki- tense marker to express the 'so long as' condition.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- tuOnly or Just with Tu
Often paired with alimradi or mradi (e.g., mradi tu) to emphasize 'just as long as' or 'provided only that'.
Level 2 - maadamuProvided That
While similar in meaning, maadamu often introduces a condition that is already true ('given that X is true'), whereas alimradi leans heavily toward stipulating a strict requirement.
Level 4 - isipokuwaExcept Unless
Isipokuwa introduces a negative exception ('unless'), contrasting with alimradi which introduces a positive requirement ('provided that').
Level 4 - -eSubjunctive -e
The subjunctive mood is required after alimradi when the condition is hypothetical or set in the future.
Level 3 - -si-Negative Subjunctive
Required after alimradi when stipulating that a hypothetical or future event must NOT happen.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice alimradi in Bubblegum
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