← Isambilisho lya Chisungu ku Bashimika ChiBemba
"For" is one of the most frequent words in English. It is a preposition: it stands before a noun or a pronoun (for my mother, for you) and shows who gets the good of an action, what a thing is meant for, the reason for something, or how long something lasts.
Bemba does most of this work without a separate word. When an action is done for someone, Bemba changes the verb: it adds -il- or -el- before the final -a. This is the applicative (benefactive) ending:
- ukubomba (to work) — ukubombela (to work for) - ukushita (to buy) — ukushitila (to buy for) - ukwipika (to cook) — ukwipikila (to cook for) - ukulemba (to write) — ukulembela (to write for)
So where Bemba says one word, Ndebombela batata, English needs a separate word before the person: "I am working for my father."
English "for" has other jobs, and Bemba uses other tools for them:
- "for" + person (benefit) = the verb in -ila/-ela: buy for mother = ukushitila mayo - "for" + use or purpose = ya, wa, ca…: water for drinking = amenshi yakunwa - "for" + reason = pa or pa mulandu wa: thank you for the food = natotela pa cakulya - "for" + time = no word at all: for three days = inshiku shitatu
What does "for" mean in Bemba? For a person, the applicative verb ending -ila/-ela; for a use, the linking word ya, wa, ca, lya; for a reason, pa or pa mulandu wa; for a length of time, nothing — Bemba simply names the time.
Key Takeaways:
- "For" + person: "I am buying bread for my mother." English needs "for"; Bemba changes the verb: Ndeshitila mayo umukate. - "For" + pronoun takes the object form: for me, for you, for him, for her, for us, for them — never "for I" or "for we". - "For" + time: "for three days", "for an hour". Bemba says only inshiku shitatu. - "Thank you for…": "Thank you for the food" = Natotela pa cakulya. - Some English verbs always take "for": look for, wait for, ask for, pay for.
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for — strong form /fɔː/ (alone or stressed: "What for?" /ˈwɒt fɔː/); weak form /fə/ before a consonant (for my mother /fə maɪ ˈmʌðə/); /fər/ before a vowel in British speech (for us /fər ˈʌs/)
The first sound, /f/, is the same as Bemba f in ukufwaya: the top teeth rest lightly on the lower lip. Bemba learners have no trouble here.
The vowel /ɔː/ of the strong form is long, with rounded lips, like a long Bemba o said with the mouth more open: /fɔː/, not "fo" and not "fora". In British English the r is not pronounced at the end of the word; in American English it is: /fɔːr/.
In normal speech "for" is unstressed and weak: "I am waiting for you" /aɪm ˈweɪtɪŋ fə ˈjuː/. Bemba has no /ə/: say a very short, relaxed sound, with the mouth hardly open, and run "for" into the next word.
"For" and "four" (4) sound the same when stressed: /fɔː/. "Four days" is a number; "for four days" is a length of time.
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14.1 Water amenshi for ya drinking kunwa
14.2 Food icakulya for ca the children bana
14.3 I (n-) am waiting for nde-lolela you -ku- (Ndekulolela)
14.4 I (n-) am working ndebomb- for -ela my father batata
14.5 Thank you natotela for pa the food cakulya
14.6 I (n-) want ndefwaya to buy ukushit- bread umukate for -ila my mother mayo
14.7 She (a-) is cooking aleipik- nshima ubwali for -ila the children abana
14.8 We (tu-) are looking for tulefwaya work incito
14.9 Write lemb- a letter kalata for -ela my mother mayo
14.10 He (a-) is buying aleshit- shoes insapato for -ila his bakwe children abana
14.11 Pray mulepep- also na for -ela (-ko) those who trouble you bamucusha
14.12 We (tu-) will stay tukekala in ku Lusaka Lusaka for (no word) three days inshiku shitatu
14.13 After panuma fasting yakufunga ukulya for (no word) forty days inshiku amakumi yane he was hungry insala yamwikata
14.14 Blessed balishuka are those who suffer abaculila for pa mulandu wa- doing -kucita what ifyo God Lesa wants afwaya
14.15 Today ilelo my mother mayo is cooking aletwipik- for us (-tu-) -ila and na my father batata is working baletubomb- for us (-tu-) -ela
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14.1 Water for drinking. Amenshi yakunwa.
14.2 Food for the children. Icakulya ca bana.
14.3 I am waiting for you. Ndekulolela.
14.4 I am working for my father. Ndebombela batata.
14.5 Thank you for the food. Natotela pa cakulya.
14.6 I want to buy bread for my mother. Ndefwaya ukushitila mayo umukate.
14.7 She is cooking nshima for the children. Aleipikila abana ubwali.
14.8 We are looking for work. Tulefwaya incito.
14.9 Write a letter for my mother. Lembela mayo kalata.
14.10 He is buying shoes for his children. Aleshitila abana bakwe insapato.
14.11 Pray also for those who trouble you. Mulepepelako na bamucusha. (Mateo 5:44, Ishiwi Lyakwa Lesa 2015)
14.12 We will stay in Lusaka for three days. Tukekala ku Lusaka inshiku shitatu.
14.13 After fasting for forty days, he was hungry. Panuma yakufunga ukulya inshiku amakumi yane, insala yamwikata. (adapted from Mateo 4:2, Ishiwi Lyakwa Lesa 2015)
14.14 Blessed are those who suffer for doing what God wants. Balishuka abaculila pa mulandu wakucita ifyo Lesa afwaya. (Mateo 5:10, Ishiwi Lyakwa Lesa 2015)
14.15 Today my mother is cooking for us, and my father is working for us. Ilelo mayo aletwipikila, na batata baletubombela.
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14.1 Water for drinking.
14.2 Food for the children.
14.3 I am waiting for you.
14.4 I am working for my father.
14.5 Thank you for the food.
14.6 I want to buy bread for my mother.
14.7 She is cooking nshima for the children.
14.8 We are looking for work.
14.9 Write a letter for my mother.
14.10 He is buying shoes for his children.
14.11 Pray also for those who trouble you.
14.12 We will stay in Lusaka for three days.
14.13 After fasting for forty days, he was hungry.
14.14 Blessed are those who suffer for doing what God wants.
14.15 Today my mother is cooking for us, and my father is working for us.
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These are the grammar rules for "for" in English:
1. "For" + person (benefit). The person who gets the good of the action comes after "for": "I am working for my father" (14.4), "She is cooking nshima for the children" (14.7). Bemba puts the benefit inside the verb, with -il- or -el-, and the person comes straight after the verb:
- work for — ukubombela (ukubomba + -el-) (14.4) - buy for — ukushitila (ukushita + -il-) (14.6, 14.10) - cook for — ukwipikila (ukwipika + -il-) (14.7, 14.15) - write for — ukulembela (ukulemba + -el-) (14.9) - pray for — ukupepela (ukupepa + -el-) (14.11)
Bemba chooses -il- after a, i or u in the root (shita, ipika) and -el- after e or o (lemba, bomba, pepa). English has nothing like this: the verb never changes, and "for" does all the work.
Word order. Bemba usually says the person first, then the thing: Ndefwaya ukushitila mayo umukate, "I want to buy-for mother bread". English puts the thing first and "for" + person last: "I want to buy bread for my mother" (14.6). English can also say "I want to buy my mother bread", without "for", but never "I want to buy for my mother bread".
2. "For" + pronoun. After "for" English uses the object forms: for me, for you, for him, for her, for it, for us, for them. Bemba puts these inside the verb:
- for you — -ku-: ndekulolela (14.3) - for us — -tu-: aletwipikila, baletubombela (14.15) - for him or her — -mu-; for them, or for a respected person — -ba-
3. "For" + use (what a thing is meant for). "Water for drinking" (14.1), "food for the children" (14.2). Bemba joins the two with the linking word that agrees with the first noun: amenshi yakunwa, icakulya ca bana. English uses "for" with every noun; after "for" a verb takes -ing: "water for drinking", not "water for drink" or "water for to drink".
4. "For" + reason. "Thank you for the food" (14.5), "those who suffer for doing what God wants" (14.14). Bemba uses pa (natotela pa cakulya) or pa mulandu wa, "because of" (pa mulandu wakucita…). After "for" the verb takes -ing: "thank you for helping me", "for doing".
5. "For" + length of time. "For three days" (14.12), "for forty days" (14.13). Bemba has no word here: Tukekala ku Lusaka inshiku shitatu. English must say "for": "We will stay in Lusaka for three days". (English speakers sometimes leave "for" out after stay or wait, but learners should keep it.) "For" tells how long; it does not tell when: "for three days", but "on Monday", "in March".
6. Verbs that always take "for". Some English verbs need "for" before their object; in Bemba the meaning is already in the verb:
- look for — ukufwaya: "We are looking for work" = Tulefwaya incito (14.8; Lesson 12) - wait for — ukulolela: "I am waiting for you" = Ndekulolela (14.3) - ask for — ukulomba: "Ask for work" = Lomba incito - pay for — "I paid for the bread"
7. How to tell the jobs apart. Look at what comes after "for": a person (for my mother) — benefit, -ila/-ela; a use (for drinking) — ya, wa, ca; a reason (for the food, for doing) — pa, pa mulandu wa; a time (for three days) — no Bemba word.
Common Mistakes:
- "I am buying for my mother bread." Correct: I am buying bread for my mother. The thing comes before "for". - "This is for I." Correct: This is for me. After "for" use me, him, her, us, them. - "I am waiting you." Correct: I am waiting for you. Bemba ndekulolela has no separate word, but English needs "for". - "Thank you for help me." Correct: Thank you for helping me. After "for" the verb takes -ing. - "I went to the shop for buy bread." Correct: I went to the shop to buy bread (Lesson 12). Use "to" + verb for purpose; "for" + noun is possible: "I went to the shop for bread." - "I have lived here since three years." Correct: I have lived here for three years. "For" + a length of time; "since" + a starting point (since 2020).
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"For" is among the fifteen most frequent words of English. It is used in everyday speech for thanks, gifts, work, waiting and time.
Doing things for others. In a Zambian home much of the day's work is done for someone: cooking for the family, buying for a parent, working for an elder. Bemba says this inside the verb (ukwipikila, ukushitila, ukubombela); English says it with "for". When you translate, look for the -ila/-ela ending in the Bemba verb, and you will know where English needs "for".
Respect. In Bemba a respected person takes the plural concord: batata baletubombela (14.15), ba Banda balefwaya (Genre). English has no respect form: "my father is working for us", "Mr Banda is looking for a worker". Respect in English is shown with titles (Mr, Mrs, Sir, Madam) and with please and thank you.
Thanks. Natotela is "thank you"; the reason for the thanks follows "for": "Thank you for the food", "Thank you for coming", "Thank you for everything".
"For" meaning "because". In old and formal English, "for" can join two sentences with the meaning "because": "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3, KJV). Here the Bemba Bible uses pantu: Balishuka abapina mu mitima, pantu ubufumu bwa mu mulu bwabo. In everyday English today, say "because".
Common expressions with "for":
- for sale — a thing that can be bought: "This house is for sale." - for example — here is one case: "Some verbs take 'for', for example 'look for'." - for ever (forever) — always, with no end - What for? — Why? For what use? - for free — without paying
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John 10:11, from Jesus's words on the good shepherd. English: King James Version (1611). Bemba: Ishiwi Lyakwa Lesa (2015), Yoani 10:11.
"I ine am ndi the good musuma shepherd kacema: the good musuma shepherd kacema (is the one who ni uyo) giveth uuleka his wakwe life umweo for pa the sheep mpaanga (his shakwe)" - John 10:11 (KJV)
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." "Ine ndi kacema musuma. Kacema musuma ni uyo uuleka umweo wakwe pa mpaanga shakwe." (Yoani 10:11, Ishiwi Lyakwa Lesa 2015)
A shepherd in Palestine, as a herder in Zambia, lives with his flock and protects it from thieves and wild animals. In this verse the good shepherd does more: he gives up his own life for the sheep. "For" here means "for the good of" and "in place of": the shepherd dies so that the sheep may live. The Bemba translation uses pa, the same small word as in natotela pa cakulya (14.5): pa mpaanga shakwe, "for his sheep". It also adds shakwe, "his", which the KJV leaves out. The verse is built on repetition: "the good shepherd" is said twice, kacema musuma twice, so that the reader sees who gives and for whom.
- "Giveth" is old English for "gives". Today we say: "The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep." Bemba uuleka is a relative, "who lets go of". - "For the sheep" — "for" + noun, meaning "for the good of". Bemba says pa mpaanga, not an applicative verb: pa marks the one for whom the life is given. - "Sheep" is the same in the singular and the plural: one sheep, many sheep. Bemba mpaanga is also the same word for one and many; only the agreement shows the plural (shakwe). - English puts the adjective before the noun: "the good shepherd". Bemba puts it after: kacema musuma. - In the KJV the colon joins two parts of one thought; today we can write a full stop, as the Bemba does.
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14.16 Mutale Mutale what nshi are you (u-) looking for bushe ulefwaya
14.17 I (n-) am looking for ndefwaya bread umukate for wa my mother mayo And na you iwe
14.18 I ine am looking for ndefwaya work incito
14.19 Who nani do bushe you (u-) want ulefwaya to work ukubomb- for -ela
14.20 I (n-) want ndefwaya to work ukubomb- for -ela Mr ba Banda Banda at ku the shop sitolo
14.21 Mr ba Banda Banda is looking for balefwaya a worker kabomba
14.22 Then nomba tomorrow mailo I (n-) will write nkalemb- a letter kalata for -ela him (-ba-)
14.23 Good cisuma Now nomba I (n-) am going ndeya to ku the shop sitolo for bread ukushita umukate
14.24 I ine am going ndeya too na I (n-) want ndefwaya to buy ukushit- sugar isukali for -ila my father batata
14.25 Look lolesha Mr ba Banda Banda is bali at ku the shop sitolo Ask for lomba work incito
14.26 Mr ba Banda Banda I (n-) am looking for ndefwaya work incito
14.27 Good cisuma You (u-) will work ukabomba at ku my yandi shop sitolo for (no word) three days inshiku shitatu
14.28 Thank you natotela for pa the work ncito Mr ba Banda Banda
14.29 Now nomba let us buy natushite bread umukate for wa my mother mayo and sugar ne sukali for lya your father bawiso
14.30 Yes ee Today ilelo is a good day bushiku busuma for kuli us ifwe
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14.16 Chanda: "Mutale, what are you looking for?" Chanda: "Mutale, bushe ulefwaya nshi?"
14.17 Mutale: "I am looking for bread for my mother. And you?" Mutale: "Ndefwaya umukate wa mayo. Na iwe?"
14.18 Chanda: "I am looking for work." Chanda: "Ine ndefwaya incito."
14.19 Mutale: "Who do you want to work for?" Mutale: "Bushe ulefwaya ukubombela nani?"
14.20 Chanda: "I want to work for Mr Banda at the shop." Chanda: "Ndefwaya ukubombela ba Banda ku sitolo."
14.21 Mutale: "Mr Banda is looking for a worker." Mutale: "Ba Banda balefwaya kabomba."
14.22 Chanda: "Then tomorrow I will write a letter for him." Chanda: "Nomba mailo nkabalembela kalata."
14.23 Mutale: "Good. Now I am going to the shop for bread." Mutale: "Cisuma. Nomba ndeya ku sitolo ukushita umukate."
14.24 Chanda: "I am going too. I want to buy sugar for my father." Chanda: "Na ine ndeya. Ndefwaya ukushitila batata isukali."
14.25 Mutale: "Look, Mr Banda is at the shop. Ask for work." Mutale: "Lolesha, ba Banda bali ku sitolo. Lomba incito."
14.26 Chanda: "Mr Banda, I am looking for work." Chanda: "Ba Banda, ndefwaya incito."
14.27 Mr Banda: "Good. You will work at my shop for three days." Ba Banda: "Cisuma. Ukabomba ku sitolo yandi inshiku shitatu."
14.28 Chanda: "Thank you for the work, Mr Banda!" Chanda: "Natotela pa ncito, ba Banda!"
14.29 Mutale: "Now let us buy bread for my mother and sugar for your father." Mutale: "Nomba natushite umukate wa mayo ne sukali lya bawiso."
14.30 Chanda: "Yes. Today is a good day for us!" Chanda: "Ee. Ilelo bushiku busuma kuli ifwe!"
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14.16 Chanda: "Mutale, what are you looking for?"
14.17 Mutale: "I am looking for bread for my mother. And you?"
14.18 Chanda: "I am looking for work."
14.19 Mutale: "Who do you want to work for?"
14.20 Chanda: "I want to work for Mr Banda at the shop."
14.21 Mutale: "Mr Banda is looking for a worker."
14.22 Chanda: "Then tomorrow I will write a letter for him."
14.23 Mutale: "Good. Now I am going to the shop for bread."
14.24 Chanda: "I am going too. I want to buy sugar for my father."
14.25 Mutale: "Look, Mr Banda is at the shop. Ask for work."
14.26 Chanda: "Mr Banda, I am looking for work."
14.27 Mr Banda: "Good. You will work at my shop for three days."
14.28 Chanda: "Thank you for the work, Mr Banda!"
14.29 Mutale: "Now let us buy bread for my mother and sugar for your father."
14.30 Chanda: "Yes. Today is a good day for us!"
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The dialogue uses the main jobs of "for":
- Benefit, "for" + person: "work for Mr Banda" (14.19, 14.20), "a letter for him" (14.22), "sugar for my father" (14.24). Bemba: ukubombela, nkabalembela, ukushitila. - Use, "for" + person or thing it is meant for: "bread for my mother" (14.17, 14.29), "sugar for your father" (14.29), "a good day for us" (14.30). Bemba: umukate wa mayo, isukali lya bawiso, kuli ifwe. - Reason: "Thank you for the work" (14.28) = Natotela pa ncito. - Time: "for three days" (14.27) = inshiku shitatu. - Verbs with "for": "look for" (14.16, 14.17, 14.18, 14.21, 14.26), "ask for" (14.25).
"For" at the end of a question. "What are you looking for?" (14.16), "Who do you want to work for?" (14.19). In English questions "for" often stays at the end, after its verb. Do not drop it: not "What are you looking?", not "Who do you want to work?" Bemba ends the question with the question word (nshi, nani); English ends it with "for".
"For bread" and "to buy bread". In 14.23, "I am going to the shop for bread" means "to buy bread". After "go", English can use "for" + noun (for bread) or "to" + verb (to buy bread, Lesson 12). Bemba uses the verb: ukushita umukate.
Respect. Mr Banda is spoken of with the respect plural in Bemba: ba Banda balefwaya, nkabalembela. English uses the title "Mr" and the singular "him".
Writing a dialogue. Each speaker's words go inside quotation marks, after the speaker's name and a colon.
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- Weak and strong: "I am looking for work" /aɪm ˈlʊkɪŋ fə ˈwɜːk/; "What are you looking for?" /ˈwɒt ə juː ˈlʊkɪŋ fɔː/ — at the end of a question "for" takes its strong form. - Before a vowel British speakers sound the r: "for us" /fər ˈʌs/, "for each" /fər ˈiːtʃ/. - "For" /fɔː/ and "four" /fɔː/ sound the same; "for four days" is /fə ˈfɔː ˈdeɪz/. - Spelling: for (the preposition), four (the number 4), fore (front, as in "forehead"). Never write "4" for "for" in formal writing. - "For" is always a separate word in English, although Bemba puts its meaning inside the verb: "work for", never "workfor"; compare ukubombela. - "Mr" is written with a capital M and, in British English, without a full stop: Mr Banda.
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