Learn Hardcore Swahili: Je, unaweza kuelezea muhtasari huu kwa kifupi?

Je, is a yes/no question marker placed at the beginning to flag the sentence as a question. The comma after Je is standard in writing, and you still put the question mark at the end. In speech or informal writing, you can omit it and use intonation: Unaweza kuelezea muhtasari huu kwa kifupi?

Do I need to include wewe for "you"?

No. Swahili verbs carry the subject in a prefix. Unaweza already means "you (singular) can." Add wewe only for emphasis or contrast: Wewe unaweza... ("You, specifically, can ...").

How is unaweza formed?

u- = you (sg) subject marker
-na- = present/habitual tense
-weza = be able/can Compare: naweza (I can), tunaweza (we can), utaweza (you will be able), ungeweza (you would be able).

Why is it kuelezea and not just elezea?

ku- marks the infinitive ("to ..."). After modal-like verbs such as -weza ("be able to"), the next verb is normally an infinitive: unaweza kuelezea = "you can explain." In casual speech some speakers drop ku-, but keep it in careful speech and writing.

Is there a difference between kueleza and kuelezea?

kueleza = to state/explain.
kuelezea = applicative form, often "explain about," "explain to (someone)," or "explain more fully." They frequently overlap; with a direct object like muhtasari, both are fine: kueleza muhtasari / kuelezea muhtasari.

Why is it muhtasari huu and not muhtasari hii?

Muhtasari ("summary") is class 3 (m-/mi-). The class 3 proximal demonstrative ("this") is huu:

singular: muhtasari huu = this summary
plural: mihtasari hii = these summaries (class 4 plural uses hii) Other distances for class 3/4: huo/hiyo (that), ule/ile (that over there).

Can the demonstrative go before the noun, like huu muhtasari?

Yes. After the noun (muhtasari huu) is the neutral default. Before the noun (huu muhtasari) adds emphasis/contrast, roughly "this summary in particular."

What does kwa kifupi literally mean, and is kwa ufupi also correct?

Literally "in shortness" → "briefly/in short." Both kwa kifupi and kwa ufupi are common and natural; use either.

Where can kwa kifupi go in the sentence?

It’s flexible:

Sentence end: ... muhtasari huu kwa kifupi? (as given)
Sentence start: Kwa kifupi, je, unaweza kuelezea muhtasari huu?
Mid-sentence (more formal): Je, unaweza, kwa kifupi, kuelezea muhtasari huu? Adding tu softens it to "just briefly": kwa kifupi tu.

If I actually want to ask for a summary (not an explanation), how should I say it?

Use a verb/expression meaning "summarize":

Je, unaweza kufupisha maelezo haya? = Can you summarize these notes?
Je, unaweza kutoa muhtasari wa maandishi haya? = Can you give a summary of this text?
Short request: Tafadhali fupisha kwa kifupi.

How can I make the request politer or adjust the tone/time?

Politer: Tafadhali elezea muhtasari huu kwa kifupi.
Softened: Naomba uelezee muhtasari huu kwa kifupi. (subjunctive uelezee)
More tentative: Je, ungeweza kuelezea ...? (would you be able to)
Future ability: Je, utaweza kuelezea ...? (will you be able to)

Isn’t "explain this summary briefly" redundant?

It can sound redundant. If you want "give me the gist," prefer:

Elezea kwa kifupi ("Explain briefly"), or
Ask for a summary directly (see options above). If you mean "clarify this existing summary, but do it briefly," the original phrasing is fine.