Chapter 22: Special Verbal Forms

Question 1

How is the reflexive expressed?

Answer 1

verb + subject + object pronoun
’Ua ha’apohe ’oia ’iāna.
He killed himself.
(Lit. was kill he him)
’Ua horohorōi vau ’ia’u 'i teie po’ipo’i.
I washed myself this morning.

Question 2

How are verbs which are reflexive in sense expressed?

Answer 2

They do not require the object pronoun.
’Ua mutu vau 'i te tipi.
I cut myself with a knife.
’Ua hi’ohi’o vau 'i roto 'i te hi’o.
I looked at myself in the mirror.

Question 3

How is the reciprocal expressed?

Answer 3

By the repetition of the pronoun, followed by iho.
A moto ’outou ’outou iho!
Fight one another!

Question 4

How is the emphatic pronoun (myself, himself, etc.) expressed?

Answer 4

Use the ordinary subject pronoun + iho.
Nā’u iho ‘i rave.
I did it myself.

Question 5

How is “can” expressed?

Answer 5

1. ‘e nehenehe tā + noun/pronoun + ‘e + verb
   E nehenehe tā ’u ’e pa ’uma ‘i ni ’a ‘i tēra tumu ra ’au.
   I can climb that tree.
2. ‘e nehenehe ‘ia + pronoun/’i te + noun + ‘ia + verb (more formal)
   ’E nehenehe ’iāna ’ia horo.
   He can run.
3. ‘e ti’a + pronoun/’i te + noun + ‘ia + verb (rare, formal)

Question 6

How is “cannot” expressed?

Answer 6

‘e’ita/’aita + tā + noun/pronoun + ‘e nehenehe ‘e + verb.
’E ’ita tā’u ‘e nehenehe ’e pa ’uma ‘i n i’a ‘i tēra tumu rā’au.
I cannot climb that tree

Question 7

How is competence “know how to” expressed?

Answer 7

'ua/'e 'ite... + 'i te + verb
’Ua ’ite anei ’oe 'i te tunu 'i te ūfi?
Do you know how to prepare yams?
’E, ’ua ’ite au 'i te tunu 'i te ūfi.
Yes, I know how to prepare yams.

Question 8

How is attempted action “try to” expressed?

Answer 8

'ua/'e + tāmata  'i te + verb
E tāmata vau 'i te hamani 'i te fare.
I shall try to build a house.
'Inanahi ra ’ua tāmata vau 'i te hamani 'i te hō’e afata.
Yesterday I tried to make a box.