Learn Hardcore Swahili: Wewe unaweza kununua chochote sokoni.

Wewe translates to “you.” It explicitly marks the sentence’s subject, although in Swahili the subject is often implied by the verb conjugation. Including wewe can add clarity or emphasis.

What does the verb unaweza mean and how is it formed?

Unaweza means “you can” or “you are able to.” It is constructed by combining the subject prefix u- (indicating “you”) with the root weza, which means “to be able,” and the ending -a marking present tense.

Why is the main verb written as kununua rather than being conjugated further?

In this sentence, kununua is in its infinitive form, indicated by the ku- prefix. When a modal verb like unaweza precedes another verb in Swahili, the following verb remains in the infinitive form to represent the action “to buy.”

What does chochote mean in this context and how is it used?

Chochote means “anything” or “whatever.” It functions as an indefinite pronoun here, conveying that there are no restrictions on what may be bought at the market.

How does sokoni indicate location in the sentence?

Sokoni is formed from the noun soko (market) with the locative suffix -ni, which denotes a place. Consequently, sokoni means “at the market.”

What tense is used in the sentence, and how is it conveyed in Swahili?

The sentence is in the present simple tense. This is shown by the structure of unaweza, where the subject prefix and the verb ending collectively indicate a present action, complemented by the infinitive form kununua following the modal verb.