Nataka tukodishe basi dogo ili kusafiri pamoja na marafiki zetu.

I want us to rent a small bus so that we can travel with our friends.

Breakdown of Nataka tukodishe basi dogo ili kusafiri pamoja na marafiki zetu.

• rafiki: the friend
• kutaka: to want
• na: with
• ili: so that
• pamoja: together
• kusafiri: to travel
• basi: the bus
• dogo: small

Questions & Answers about Nataka tukodishe basi dogo ili kusafiri pamoja na marafiki zetu.

What does nataka indicate about the speaker’s intention in this sentence?

Nataka means “I want.” It expresses the speaker’s personal desire, setting the stage for suggesting that the speaker, along with others, should participate in an action.

Why is the form tukodishe used instead of a simple conjugated verb form?

Tukodishe is the subjunctive form of the verb meaning “to build” prefixed with tu-, which indicates “we.” After expressing a personal wish with nataka, Swahili often uses the first person plural subjunctive to include the speaker and the listener(s) in the proposed action—essentially saying “let’s build.”

How do basi and dogo function in the sentence?

Basi means “bus” and dogo is an adjective that means “small.” In Swahili, adjectives typically follow the noun they modify, so basi dogo directly translates to “small bus.”

What role does ili play in this sentence?

Ili functions as a purpose conjunction meaning “so that” or “in order to.” It introduces the purpose clause, linking the action of building the bus to its intended outcome—traveling together with friends.

Why is the infinitive kusafiri used after ili?

After ili, an infinitive is used to indicate the purpose of the action. Kusafiri means “to travel,” so the phrase ili kusafiri translates as “in order to travel,” much like using the base verb form after a purpose clause in English.

What does the phrase pamoja na marafiki zetu add to the sentence?

Pamoja na marafiki zetu breaks down as follows: pamoja means “together,” na means “with,” marafiki means “friends,” and zetu is the possessive form “our.” This phrase specifies that the travel is intended to be a collective activity with the speaker’s friends.

How do the subject markers in nataka and tukodishe differ, and what does that tell us about the sentence’s structure?

In nataka, the verb is conjugated for the first person singular (“I want”), reflecting the speaker’s personal desire. In tukodishe, the prefix tu- indicates the first person plural (“we”), showing that the speaker is calling for joint action. This shift from singular to plural clearly communicates that the speaker wants to include others in the endeavor.