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Bila kibali rasmi, hatutaweza kuanzisha duka letu karibu na stesheni.

Bila kibali rasmi, hatutaweza kuanzisha duka letu karibu na stesheni.
Without an official permit, we will not be able to start our shop near the station.
FromLesson 37inHardcore Swahili
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Questions & Answers about Bila kibali rasmi, hatutaweza kuanzisha duka letu karibu na stesheni.

Why is bila used here and what does it mean?
bila means “without” and introduces the lack of something. It’s followed by a noun phrase (bila kibali rasmi = “without official permission”). It differs from hakuna (“there is no”), which negates existence rather than describing absence of a required condition.
How is the verb hatutaweza formed?

It splits into four parts:

  • ha- (negative marker)
  • -tu- (subject prefix “we”)
  • -ta- (future tense marker)
  • -weza (verb root “to be able”)
    Combined, hatutaweza means “we will not be able.”
What’s the difference between kuanza, anzisha, and kuanzisha?
  • kuanza = plain infinitive “to start.”
  • anzisha = imperative/causative stem “cause to start” (e.g. “establish!”).
  • kuanzisha = infinitive ku-
    • causative -isha on anza, meaning “to establish/to set up.” Hence kuanzisha duka letu = “to establish our shop.”
Why is it duka letu and not letu duka?
In Swahili, possessives follow the noun. duka = “shop,” letu = “our.” So duka letu = “our shop.”
Why is the phrase karibu na stesheni used for “near the station”?
karibu means “near,” and na (“with/to”) links it to the object of proximity. So karibu na stesheni literally “near with station” = “near the station.”
What does rasmi mean, and why doesn’t it change to match kibali?
rasmi means “official.” Although many Swahili adjectives agree with noun classes, rasmi is a loanword that remains invariable, so it doesn’t take agreement prefixes.
Is the comma after rasmi necessary?
The comma sets off the introductory phrase bila kibali rasmi from the main clause, much like in English. In Swahili writing, commas improve readability but aren’t strictly mandatory; you may see it with or without the comma.