When to use it
Use it at the end of a meal to ask the waiter politely for the bill.
The sentence in English (“Could you bring the bill, please?”)
In “Could you bring the bill, please?” ‘Could’ softens the request and comes before ‘you’.
- Could
- auxiliary verbcan · form: conditional · modal verb; "Could you…?" is a polite request
- you
- pronounpersonal pronoun
- bring
- verbbring · form: base form (infinitive without "to") · after a modal verb the main verb has no "to"
- the
- determinerdefinite article
- bill
- nounnoun; the check at a restaurant
- please
- adverbpoliteness word
The sentence in Swahili (“Naomba uniletee bili, tafadhali.”)
In “Naomba uniletee bili, tafadhali.” the request opens with ‘Naomba’ (I ask). The verb ‘uniletee’ holds three parts: ‘u-’ (you), ‘-ni-’ (me) and ‘-letee’ (bring for), in the subjunctive.
- Naomba
- verbomba · person: 1st singular · tense: present (-a-) · 'I ask'; a polite request
- uniletee
- verbleta · person: 2nd singular · mood: subjunctive (-e) · u- (you) + -ni- (me) + letea 'bring for' + -e
- bili
- noun'bill', from English
- tafadhali
- adverb'please'
What changes from one language to the other (English × Swahili)
English spreads the request over separate words; Swahili packs you, me and the action into one verb.
Example conversation
— Naomba uniletee bili, tafadhali.
— Could you bring the bill, please?
— Sawa, naileta sasa hivi.
— Of course, I'll bring it now.