Tafadhali usiketi vibaya; unaweza kuegemea ukuta ili mgongo usiume.

so that

Breakdown of Tafadhali usiketi vibaya; unaweza kuegemea ukuta ili mgongo usiume.

• kuweza: to be able
• tafadhali: please
• mgongo: the back
• ukuta: the wall
• kuumiza: to hurt

Questions & Answers about Tafadhali usiketi vibaya; unaweza kuegemea ukuta ili mgongo usiume.

What does tafadhali mean at the beginning of the sentence?

Tafadhali translates to "please" in English. It is used as a polite marker to request or advise someone in the sentence.

How is the negative imperative formed in usiketi vibaya?

In Swahili, to form a negative command you add the prefix usi- to the verb. Here, usiketi is the negative imperative form of kuketi (to sit), telling someone "don’t sit." The word vibaya means "badly" or "improperly," further specifying that one should not sit in a poor manner.

What is the meaning and function of the phrase unaweza kuegemea ukuta?

The phrase breaks down as follows: unaweza means "you can" or "are able to," kuegemea is the infinitive form meaning "to lean on," and ukuta means "wall." Together, it advises that you are allowed or can lean on the wall.

How does the clause ili mgongo usiume contribute to the sentence?

The word ili serves to introduce a purpose clause, translating to "so that" or "in order that." In mgongo usiume, mgongo means "back," and usiume is a form of the verb that indicates something should not happen—in this case, that the back should not bend or become hurt. This clause explains the purpose of leaning on the wall.

Why is this sentence structured with two separate commands, and what is the overall advice it gives?

The sentence is structured in two parts: first, it instructs the listener not to sit improperly (usiketi vibaya), and then it offers a positive alternative (unaweza kuegemea ukuta) with the intended consequence (ili mgongo usiume). The overall advice is to adopt a proper sitting posture—by leaning on the wall—to prevent back problems.