Breakdown of Tafadhali nisaidie kubandika ramani kwenye ubao wa darasa.
wa
of
kusaidia
to help
tafadhali
please
ni
me
ramani
the map
darasa
the class
kwenye
on
kubandika
to stick
ubao
the board
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Swahili grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Tafadhali nisaidie kubandika ramani kwenye ubao wa darasa.
What does Tafadhali mean, and why is it placed at the start of the sentence?
Tafadhali means “please.” It’s a polite request marker and is most naturally placed at the beginning of a command or plea.
How is nisaidie formed, and what does each part do?
Breakdown of nisaidie:
• ni- = object marker “me”
• saidia = verb “help”
• -e = subjunctive/imperative ending required after polite requests
Together they mean “help me …”.
Why is the verb kubandika in the infinitive (“to stick”) form? What is the role of ku-?
After saidia, Swahili grammar requires a following verb in the infinitive. The prefix ku- marks that infinitive (“to …”), so kubandika = “to stick.”
Could we replace kubandika with another verb like kushikiza? What nuance changes?
• kubandika → “to stick” (using glue or tape)
• kushikiza → “to fasten” or “to attach” (often with pins, clips, nails)
You can use kushikiza if you mean you’ll pin the map rather than glue or tape it.
What does ramani mean, and does it have a different plural form?
ramani means “map.” It doesn’t change in the plural; you use context or numbers to show “maps.”
Why use kwenye ubao instead of juu ya ubao to mean “on the board”?
• kwenye (= kwa + enye) is a general locative preposition meaning “in/on/at.”
• juu ya = “on top of.”
kwenye ubao is more idiomatic for “on the board” in everyday speech.
What is ubao, and why does it have a u- prefix?
ubao means “board,” and the u- prefix marks it as a class 11 noun (a class often used for large, flat objects).
What role does wa play in ubao wa darasa?
wa is the genitive concord for class 11. It links ubao (“board”) with darasa (“classroom”), functioning like English “of” or the possessive “’s.”
Does darasa here mean “class” (students) or “lesson”?
darasa can mean both “class” (a group of students) and “lesson” (the session). In ubao wa darasa it refers to the physical classroom or the class session, so “classroom board.”