Ninataka kuomba kazi hii.

I want to apply for this job.

Breakdown of Ninataka kuomba kazi hii.

• kutaka: to want
• hii: this
• kuomba kazi: to apply for a job

Questions & Answers about Ninataka kuomba kazi hii.

How is ninataka built?

Ninataka is one verb word made of smaller parts:

• ni- = I
• -na- = present tense marker
• -taka = want

So ninataka means I want or I am wanting.

This is very common in Swahili: subject, tense, and verb root are often combined into one word.

Why is there ku- before omba?

The ku- is the infinitive marker, like to in English.

• kuomba = to ask / to request / to apply / to pray, depending on context

After a verb like -taka (want), Swahili usually uses the next verb in the infinitive form:

• ninataka kuomba = I want to apply / I want to ask

So ku- here works a lot like English to in want to apply.

Does kuomba always mean to apply?