Learn Hardcore Swahili: Mhasibu alidai risiti zote kabla ya kufunga hesabu. - The accountant demanded all receipts before closing the accounts.

a- = 3rd person singular subject marker (he/she).
-li- = past tense marker.
dai = verb root “claim/demand.” So alidai means “he/she demanded/claimed,” a completed past action (simple past/perfective).

Does kudai mean “to ask for,” or is it stronger than that?

kudai is stronger: it means “to demand” or “to claim” (e.g., a right, payment, reimbursement). If you want a polite “ask for,” prefer:

kuomba = to request
kuuliza = to ask (a question) So “demanded all the receipts” fits alidai risiti zote; for a polite request: aliomba risiti zote.

What noun class is risiti, and how does that affect agreement?

risiti (receipt) is in the N class (class 9/10). In this class, singular and plural often look the same: one receipt = risiti moja; two receipts = risiti mbili. Adjective/quantifier agreement uses the z- pattern in the plural, hence risiti zote (“all the receipts”).

Why is it zote and not yote, wote, or vyote?

“All” agrees with the noun class:

N class plural (like risiti) → zote: risiti zote
People (wa- class plural) → wote: watu wote
ki-/vi- class plural → vyote: viti vyote
ma- class (mass/plural) → yote: mafuta yote, mahitaji yote That’s why you need zote here.

What exactly does kufunga hesabu mean?

Literally “to close accounts.” kufunga is “to close/tie/shut,” and hesabu is “accounts, arithmetic, calculations.” As a set phrase, kufunga hesabu means “to close the books/finalize the accounts,” e.g., end-of-day or end-of-period closing.

Should it be hesabu or mahesabu?

Both occur, but there’s a nuance:

kufunga hesabu is a common idiom for closing the books (you’ll hear it a lot in shops/cashiering).
kufunga mahesabu can sound more like “close the accounts” in a broader/accounting sense. Either is acceptable; choose based on context and local usage.

Why is it kabla ya and not just kabla?

When “before” is followed by a noun or an infinitive verb phrase, Swahili uses the prepositional sequence kabla ya:

kabla ya kufunga hesabu = “before closing the accounts” The ya here is fixed; it does not change with noun class. The same happens with baada ya (“after”): baada ya kufunga hesabu.

Can I express “before” with a finite clause instead of an infinitive?

Yes. Two common alternatives:

Kabla hajafunga hesabu, ... (literally “before he has closed the accounts” → understood as “before he closed/closes,” using the negative perfect marker -ja-: haja-).
Less commonly in careful standard style, some use the subjunctive after kabla: kabla afunge hesabu. The most general and straightforward is still kabla ya + ku-verb.

Could/should I use an object marker for “receipts,” like alizidai?

Use an object marker when the object is already known/topical or when the noun is omitted:

Without repeating the noun: Mhasibu alizidai (“The accountant demanded them” — here zi- agrees with class 10 plural).
With topicalized noun: Risiti zote, mhasibu alizidai. In a neutral sentence where the object is stated after the verb, you normally do not add the object marker: Mhasibu alidai risiti zote is perfect.

Is the word order flexible? Could I front the “before…” phrase?

Yes. All are acceptable:

Mhasibu alidai risiti zote kabla ya kufunga hesabu.
Kabla ya kufunga hesabu, mhasibu alidai risiti zote. Fronting the time phrase adds a bit of emphasis on the timing.

How would I say this as a habitual action instead of a one-time event?

Use the habitual marker hu- with the bare verb:

Mhasibu hudai risiti zote kabla ya kufunga hesabu. = “The accountant (typically) demands all the receipts before closing the accounts.” Alternatively, progressive/habitual past: Mhasibu alikuwa akidai risiti zote... (“was/used to be demanding”).

What is the plural of mhasibu, and how does agreement work?

Singular: mhasibu (class 1)
Plural: wahasibu (class 2) Subject agreement:
Singular: a- (as in alidai)
Plural: wa- (e.g., walidai = “they demanded”) Example: Wahasibu walidai risiti zote kabla ya kufunga hesabu.

Could I soften the tone to make the accountant sound polite?

Yes—swap kudai for a polite request:

Mhasibu aliomba risiti zote kabla ya kufunga hesabu. You can also add politeness markers:
Tafadhali leteni risiti zenu zote kabla ya kufunga hesabu. (imperative/plural “please bring all your receipts”)

Are there synonyms for risiti?

Yes. stakabadhi is a more formal/official term often used in government/official contexts. In everyday speech, risiti is more common. Both are N-class and take zote in the plural phrase: stakabadhi zote.