Tafadhali, nakusihi utoe daftari lako ili tuandike majina ya wageni.

Word
Tafadhali, nakusihi utoe daftari lako ili tuandike majina ya wageni.
Meaning
Please, I beg you to bring out your notebook so we can write the names of the visitors.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Lesson

Breakdown of Tafadhali, nakusihi utoe daftari lako ili tuandike majina ya wageni.

kuandika
to write
ya
of
ili
so that
tafadhali
please
daftari
the notebook
toa
to bring out
jina
the name
mgeni
the visitor
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Questions & Answers about Tafadhali, nakusihi utoe daftari lako ili tuandike majina ya wageni.

What does Tafadhali mean in this sentence?
It means please. This word is used at the beginning of the sentence to politely request something.
How should we understand nakusihi in terms of its meaning and structure?
Nakusihi comes from the verb kusihi, meaning "to beg" or "to request." The prefix na- indicates the first-person singular ("I"), and the infixed object marker ku- represents the second-person singular ("you"). Thus, it translates as I beg you or I request you.
What is the significance of the verb form utoo in the sentence?
Utoe is the imperative (or subjunctive) form of kutoa, meaning "to give" or "to hand over." It is used here to instruct or request the addressee to give their notebook. This form is typical after expressions of request in Swahili.
How is possession expressed in the phrase daftari lako?
In daftari lako, daftari means "notebook" and lako is the possessive pronoun for "your." In Swahili, the possessive adjective follows the noun, so the phrase literally means notebook your, which is understood as your notebook.
What role does ili tuandike majina ya wageni play in the sentence?
This phrase expresses the purpose of the request. Ili means "so that" or "in order to," tuandike is the subjunctive form meaning "we write," and majina ya wageni translates to "the names of the guests." Together, it explains that the notebook is needed so that we can write the names of the guests.
Why does the subject shift from first-person singular in nakusihi to first-person plural in tuandike?
The change reflects the roles in the request. Nakusihi (I beg/request you) uses the first-person singular to show the speaker’s action of requesting, while tuandike (we write) includes both the speaker and others involved in the writing task. This explains that the notebook is needed for a collective activity.
Why is the verb tuandike in the subjunctive mood rather than the indicative?
In Swahili, when expressing purpose or desired actions—especially following expressions of request or commands—the following verb is often in the subjunctive mood. Tuandike (derived from andika meaning "to write") is used here to indicate an intended action, communicating that the writing of the names is a goal rather than a stated fact.

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