Volunteering

1. Waxaan rabaa inaan mashruucan bilaash u caawiyo.

   I want to help this project for free.

   Usage

   Offering to join as a volunteer. The idea is expressed as helping for free.

   Grammar Note

   Rab means "want". The verb after inaan is in the subjunctive (caawiyo). U marks the beneficiary, "for". This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

2. Maxaan qaban karaa?

   What can I do to help?

   Usage

   Asking what task you can take on. A natural stand-in for asking where you can help.

   Grammar Note

   Maxaan is maxaa (what) + aan (I) in one word. Qab means "do, carry out" and combines with kar (can). This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

3. Waannu u shaqeynaa bulshada tuulada.

   We work for the village community.

   Usage

   Describing what your group does.

   Grammar Note

   Waannu fuses waa with aynu (we). U shaqee means "work for". Bulshada tuulada is "the community of the village". This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

4. Waxaan barayaa carruurta dugsiga.

   I teach the children at the school.

   Usage

   Saying you teach children at a school as a volunteer.

   Grammar Note

   Baro covers both "teach" and "learn"; barayaa is the progressive. Carruur is a collective noun (feminine), with the article -ta. This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

5. Ururkani waa mid shaqo wanaagsan qabta.

   This organization does good work.

   Usage

   Praising an organization's work.

   Grammar Note

   The ending -kani means "this" (masculine, subject form). Qabta is the relative form of "do", describing mid (the one). This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

6. Waxaan u baahan ahay tababbar dheeraad ah, intaanan bilaabin.

   I need more training before I start.

   Usage

   Asking for more training before beginning.

   Grammar Note

   U baahan ahay means "need" and is written as separate words. Intaanan with the negative subjunctive means "before I ...". This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

7. Waannu daryeelnaa deegaanka.

   We take care of the environment.

   Usage

   Saying that your group cares about the environment.

   Grammar Note

   Daryeel means "look after". Deegaan is the surroundings one lives in, with the article -ka. This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

8. Aad baad u mahadsan tahay caawimaaddaada.

   Thank you very much for your help.

   Usage

   Thanking someone for their help. The same thanks formula works in other situations.

   Grammar Note

   Baad is baa fused with aad (you). The ending -aada on caawimaad means "your". This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

9. Waannu u dhisnaa guryo qoysas sabool ah.

   We build houses for poor families.

   Usage

   Describing a house-building project.

   Grammar Note

   Dhis means "build". Guryo is the plural of guri (house) and qoysas the plural of qoys (family). This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

10. Wadajir baannu bulshada beddeli karnaa.

    Together we can change the community.

    Usage

    Rallying people to work together.

    Grammar Note

    Baannu is the focus marker baa fused with aannu (we). Beddel means "change, exchange" and combines with kar. This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

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