**Non-Contact and Emotion Verbs in Samoan: The Preposition
In Samoan, many verbs—especially emotions or non-physical verbs—need a preposition to connect the verb to the location or target. This is different from English where these verbs take direct objects without prepositions. Understanding this is key to forming correct sentences in Samoan.
Non-Contact Verbs and Prepositions
Non-contact verbs are actions or states that don’t involve physical touch. In Samoan, these verbs usually need a preposition (usually “i” or “ia”) to introduce the object or location affected by the action.
For example:
- Alofa (to love) → “E alofa le tama i lona tinā.” (The boy loves his mother.)
- Fefe (to fear) → “Ua fefe le teine i le puaʻa.” (The girl is afraid of the pig.)
In English, these verbs take direct objects (“He loves his mother”), but in Samoan, you need “i”.
Emotion Verbs and Location Phrases
Emotion verbs (e.g., fiafia – to be happy, ita – to be angry) follow this pattern. The preposition links the emotion to its cause or target:
- Fiafia (to be happy) → “Ua fiafia le tamāloa i lana faʻamanuiaga.” (The man is happy about his blessing.)
- Ita (to be angry) → “Sa ita le fafine i lana tama.” (The woman was angry at her child.)
Again, English often omits the preposition (“She is angry at her child” is optional, whereas Samoan requires “i”).
List of Common Non-Contact & Emotion Verbs
Here are some verbs that need a preposition in Samoan:
- Alofa – to love
- Fefe – to fear
- Fiafia – to be happy
- Ita – to be angry10. Manaʻo – to want/desire
- Faʻanoanoa – to be sad
- Mataʻu – to be afraid
- Faʻamālosi – to encourage (someone)
- Talitonu – to believe (in)
- Faʻamoemoe – to hope (for)
Key differences from English
- English: Uses direct objects (“She wants dogs”).
- Samoan: Needs a preposition (“E manaʻo ia i maile”).
This structure highlights the indirect relationship between the verb and its object, which is a cultural nuance that emotions and non-physical actions are seen as interactions rather than direct impacts.
Conclusion
Learning to use prepositions with non-contact and emotion verbs is crucial for Samoan fluency. Remember: if the verb is an emotion or non-physical action, it probably needs “i” or “ia” before the object. Pay attention to these patterns and you’ll speak more naturally and accurately in Samoan.
