Understanding Multiple Subjects in Samoan Sentences
When you’re learning Samoan, you might notice that some sentences have more than one subject. This can feel confusing at first, but don’t worry—it’s easier than it seems! In these cases, the “doer” of the action (the person or thing doing something) is marked with a little word: “e”. This word tells us who is doing the action and helps us understand the sentence better.
Let’s break it down step by step, using simple examples and explanations.
1. What is the “Doer” of the Action?
In every sentence, there is someone or something doing the action. This is called the doer or the subject. When there are multiple subjects in a Samoan sentence, the word “e” shows us which subject is performing the action.
- Example:
- Samoan: Na avatu e le tamā le tusi i le teine.
- English: The father gave the book to the girl.
Here’s how it works:
- “Na avatu” means “gave.”
- “E le tamā” tells us who gave the book. The “e” marks “le tamā” (the father) as the doer.
- “Le tusi” (the book) is the thing being given.
- “I le teine” (to the girl) shows who received the book.
Without the “e,” it would be harder to tell who is doing the action.
2. Why Do We Need “E”?
Imagine if you read a sentence with two or more subjects and no “e.” You might not know who is doing what! The word “e” clears up any confusion by pointing out the doer of the action.
- Example:
- Samoan: Na fesoasoani e le tamā i le teine.
- English: The father helped the girl.
- What if there was no “e”?
- Na fesoasoani le tamā i le teine.
- This could be confusing because we might not know if the father or the girl was helping!
By using “e,” we know for sure that the father is the one doing the helping.
3. Who Receives the Action?
After the doer of the action is marked with “e,” the sentence may also include the receiver of the action. The receiver is the person or thing that the action is done to. In Samoan, this is usually introduced with words like “i” (to) or “mo” (for).
- Example:
- Samoan: Na avatu e le teine le fala i le tamā.
- English: The girl gave the mat to the father.
Here’s what’s happening:
- Doer: The “e le teine” (the girl) is marked with “e,” so we know she is doing the giving.
- Action: “Na avatu” means “gave.”
- Receiver: “I le tamā” (to the father) shows who got the mat.
4. How Does “E” Work with Multiple Subjects?
When there are several people or things in a sentence, “e” makes it clear which subject is responsible for the action.
- Example:
- Samoan: Na fai e le tamaitiiti le keke mo le teine.
- English: The boy made the cake for the girl.
Let’s break it down:
- “Na fai” means “made.”
- “E le tamaitiiti” (the boy) shows who made the cake.
- “Le keke” (the cake) is what he made.
- “Mo le teine” (for the girl) shows who the cake was made for.
Without “e,” the sentence might be unclear about who did the baking.
5. Practice Sentences
Here are some practice sentences to help you understand:
- Samoan: Na tali e le teine le fesili a le tamā.
- English: The girl answered the father’s question.
- Samoan: Sa ave e le tamā le ato i le tamaitiiti.
- English: The father took the bag to the child.
6. Why This Matters
Using “e” is important because it keeps Samoan sentences clear and easy to understand. When you see a sentence with multiple subjects, look for “e” to figure out who is doing the action. This small word helps avoid confusion and makes your Samoan more natural.
