Gagana Samoa: A Samoan Language Coursebook, Revised Edition

Lesona 16. Verb Tenses

333333333333333 6 LESoNA 16 Verb Tenses Samoan verbs have two distinguishing features about them. These are useful to learn. 1. The verb itself does not change for the past or future. The tense or aspect is shown or marked by verbal particles called tense indicators. Examples are the past tense indicators sā or na. The verb phrase consists of a tense indicator followed by the verb. 2. The verbs “to be” and “to have” do not have direct equivalents in the Samoan language. However, there are other ways (equivalent structures) to express these. You will study these in the next few lessons. Tense indicators There are six main tense indicators. 1. e or te These express present tense indefinite or the vague or implied future. E is used when the subject follows the verb. for example: E alu Siaki i ‘Aukilani. — Jack goes to Auckland. Te is used when it immediately follows a pronoun. for example: ‘Ou te alu ‘i le falema‘i. — I go to the hospital. 2. ‘olo‘o This particle expresses continuous action in the present. for example: ‘Olo‘o moe Ioane. — Ioane is asleep. (or is sleeping) 3. ‘ua ‘Ua is used in three different ways. (a) To express the perfect tense. This is its most common use. for example: ‘Ua alu Pele. — Pele has gone. Lesona 6 6 Honoured guests receive ‘ava. Wellington, New Zealand (b) With impersonal verbs, to express the present tense. for example: ‘Ua pō. — It is dark. (night time) (c) To express the past perfect when it combines with a verb such as ‘māe‘a’ (to be complete). for example: ‘Ua māe‘a ona ‘e ‘ai ‘ae le‘i ‘aumaia le palusami. — You have finished eating before the palusami has arrived. 4. sā This indicator expresses the past perfect tense. It is used to describe events that may or may not have been completed. for example: Sā moe Pita. — Pita was sleeping. 5. na Na can be used to describe the simple past. The action occurred in the past and is complete. for example: Na savali le tama. — The boy walked. 6 Gagana Sāmoa 6. ‘ole‘ā This expresses the immediate or definite future. for example: ‘Ole‘ā tamo‘e le tama. — The boy will run. Practise The following are examples for revision and practise. Please do them diligently. 1. e E nofo Lagimaina i Henderson. — Lagimaina lives in Henderson. E savali le tama ‘i le ā‘oga. — The boy walks to school. E fiafia ‘oe i le fāgota? — You like fishing? E ā‘oga Moe i Ponsonby. — Moe goes to the Ponsonby. E musu le teine ‘i le tama. — The girl dislikes the boy. te ‘Ou te nofo i Wiri. — I live in Wiri. Lua te ō ‘i Sāmoa? — Are you (2) going to Sāmoa? Mā te ‘a‘ai. — We (2 excl.) eat. Na te iloa a‘u. — She/he knows me. Mātou te iloa ia. — We know him. 2. ‘olo‘o ‘Olo‘o fa‘anoanoa le tinā. — The mother is sad. ‘Olo‘o tatalo le faife‘au. — The pastor is praying. ‘Olo‘o pese le tama. — The boy is singing. ‘Olo‘o mātou fa‘atali. — We (3+ excl.) are waiting. ‘Olo‘o tātou taufetuli. — We (3+ incl.) are running. 3. ‘ua ‘Ua sau le va‘alele. — The aeroplane has come. ‘Ua ‘uma le mea‘ai. — The food is finished. ‘Ua taunu‘u mai va‘a. — The boats have arrived. ‘Ua ‘ou va‘ai ‘i le ta‘avale. — I have seen the car. ‘Ua tou tā‘e‘ele? — Have you (3+ excl.) showered? ≥ Lesona 6 6 4. na Na leiloa le ‘ato. — The bag was lost. Na ‘ata le tamāloa. — The man laughed. Na savali le tamaitiiti — The child walked. Na ‘a‘ai le ‘āiga. — The family ate. Na tatalo le faife‘au — The pastor prayed. 5. sā Sā moe le maile. — The dog was sleeping. Sā tagi le pepe. — The baby was crying. Sā ita le faiā‘oga. — The teacher was angry. Sā fāgota le tamāloa. — The man was fishing. Sā talanoa le teine. — The girl was talking. 6. ‘ole‘ā ‘Ole‘ā ‘ou alu. — I will (shall) go. ‘Ole‘ā pa‘ū le lā‘au. — The tree will fall. ‘Ole‘ā lele le lupe. — The pigeon will fly. ‘Ole‘ā matou sāvavali. — We (3+ excl.) will walk. ‘Ole‘ā tagi le pepe. — The baby will cry. EXERCISE 51 Translate / Fa‘aliliu 1. E alu Tavita...