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In Samoan, prepositions are essential elements that indicate the relationship between various elements within a sentence. They are used to specify the position, direction, or manner of an action, object, or subject in relation to another. Prepositions in Samoan, much like in English, help to provide clarity and context to a sentence. Here’s how Samoan prepositions are used:
- Positional Relationships: Samoan prepositions describe the position of one object or entity in relation to another. For example, “i luga o” means “on top of,” “i lalo o” means “under,” “i luma o” means “in front of,” and “i tua o” means “behind.” These prepositions clarify the spatial relationship between objects or entities.
- Directional Relationships: Prepositions in Samoan also indicate the direction of movement or action. For instance, “i” generally means “to” or “toward,” indicating movement toward a location or target. “Mai” means “from,” specifying the origin or starting point of movement.
- Temporal Relationships: Some Samoan prepositions denote temporal relationships, indicating time-related aspects within a sentence. For example, “i le taimi” means “at the time of,” specifying a particular moment or period. “I le vaiaso” means “during the week,” indicating a time frame.
- Instrumental Relationships: Prepositions like “fa’atasi ma” mean “with,” indicating companionship or collaboration with someone or something. This preposition is used to denote involvement or association with others in an action or event.
- Possessive Relationships: Samoan prepositions can also express possessive relationships. For instance, “ma” means “for” or “belonging to.” It denotes ownership or association with an object or entity.
- Locative Relationships: Prepositions in Samoan also specify the location of an object or entity in relation to a place or area. For example, “i tafatafa o” means “beside” or “next to,” indicating proximity to something else. “I latalata i” means “near,” suggesting closeness in distance.
Overall, Samoan prepositions play a crucial role in providing clarity and precision in communication. They help to establish spatial, temporal, directional, and relational aspects within a sentence, enabling speakers to convey their intended meaning effectively. Understanding and mastering prepositions is essential for proficiency in Samoan language usage.
Preposition Reference Key:
- i – in, to, at, on
- i lalo o – under
- i luga o – on top of
- i totonu o – inside
- i fafo o – outside
- i luma o – in front of
- i tua o – behind
- fa’atasi ma – with
- mai – from
- mo – for
The following sentences are in Tense Marker-Action-Subject-Location format
Example: ‘Ua (tense marker)– alu (action)– le tama (subject) – i le fale (location).
Has (tense) – go (action) – the boy (subject) – to the house (location).
Quiz:
- ‘Ua alu le tama ____ le fale. (The boy went to the house.)
- ‘Olo’o nofo le teine ____ le laulau. (The girl is sitting at the table.)
- Sa moe le pepe ____ le moega. (The baby slept in the bed.)
- E fiafia le ali’i ____ ta’aloga. (The man likes for games.)
- ‘Ua savali le tagata ____ le auala. (The person walked on the road.)
- Sa ‘ai le pusi ____ le pusa. (The cat ate from the box.)
- ‘Olo’o ta’alo le tama ____ le malae. (The boy is playing in the field.)
- E nofo le fafine ____ le nofoa. (The woman sits on the chair.)
- ‘Ua alu le a’oga ____ le potu a’oga. (The school went to the classroom.)
- Sa moe le tamaitiiti ____ le nofoa. (The child slept on the chair.)
- ‘Ua alu le ta’avale ____ le faleoloa. (The car went to the store.)
- ‘Olo’o feinu le tamā ____ le ipu. (The father is drinking from the cup.)
- Sa tamo’e le teine ____ le paka. (The girl ran in the park.)
- ‘Ua tautala le faia’oga ____ le tamaitiiti. (The teacher spoke to the child.)
- E nofo le tama’ita’i ____ le fale. (The young lady stays in the house.)
- Sa nofo le pusi ____ le laulau. (The cat sat on the table.)
- ‘Ua savali le ta’ifau ____ le auala. (The dog walked on the road.)
- ‘Olo’o ‘ai le tagata ____ le fale’aiga. (The person is eating at the restaurant.)
- Sa moe le tama ____ le moega. (The boy slept in the bed.)
- ‘Ua alu le teine ____ le fale. (The girl went to the house.)
- ‘Olo’o nofo le teine ____ le nofoa. (The girl is sitting on the chair.)
- E ‘ai le tama ____ le laulau. (The boy eats at the table.)
- Sa moe le pusi ____ le nofoa. (The cat slept on the chair.)
- ‘Ua savali le tama ____ le malae. (The boy walked on the field.)
- ‘Olo’o ta’alo le tamā ____ le fanau. (The father is playing with the children.)
- Sa nofo le fafine ____ le nofoa. (The woman sat on the chair.)
- ‘Ua tamo’e le tamaitiiti ____ le fale. (The child is running to the house.)
- ‘Olo’o moe le pepe ____ le moega. (The baby is sleeping in the bed.)
- Sa savali le teine ____ le malae. (The girl walked on the field.)
- ‘Ua feinu le tagata ____ le ipu. (The person drank from the cup.)
- ‘Olo’o nofo le tamā ____ le fale. (The father is staying in the house.)
- E ‘ai le tamaitiiti ____ le fale’aiga. (The child eats at the restaurant.)
- Sa savali le ali’i ____ le paka. (The man walked in the park.)
- ‘Ua ta’alo le teine ____ le malae. (The girl played on the field.)
- ‘Olo’o moe le pusi ____ le laulau. (The cat is sleeping on the table.)
- Sa nofo le fafine ____ le nofoa. (The woman sat on the chair.)
- ‘Ua tamo’e le tama ____ le fale. (The boy is running to the house.)
- ‘Olo’o ta’alo le tamaitiiti ____ le malae. (The child is playing on the field.)
- E nofo le ali’i ____ le nofoa. (The man sits on the chair.)
- Sa moe le pepe ____ le nofoa. (The baby slept on the chair.)
- ‘Ua alu le tamā ____ le fale. (The father went to the house.)
- ‘Olo’o nofo le tamaitiiti ____ le nofoa. (The child is sitting on the chair.)
- E ‘ai le tamā ____ le laulau. (The father eats at the table.)
- Sa tamo’e le teine ____ le paka. (The girl ran in the park.)
- ‘Ua feinu le fafine ____ le ipu. (The woman drank from the cup.)
- ‘Olo’o nofo le tagata ____ le fale. (The person is staying in the house.)
- E savali le tama ____ le malae. (The boy walks on the field.)
- Sa moe le pusi ____ le moega. (The cat slept in the bed.)
- ‘Ua nofo le fafine ____ le nofoa. (The woman sits on the chair.)
- ‘Olo’o ta’alo le tama ____ le malae. (The boy is playing on the field.)
