Language/Fijian/Grammar/Adjectives
Hi Fijian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we'll be discussing adjectives in Fijian grammar. Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns. For example, in the sentence "The beautiful girl is singing," the word "beautiful" is an adjective that describes the noun "girl."
Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Pronouns, Give your Opinion, Questions & Plurals.
Forming Adjectives in Fijian[edit | edit source]
In Fijian, adjectives can be formed by either adding a suffix to a noun or simply using the base form of the word as an adjective.
Using a Suffix[edit | edit source]
To form an adjective using a suffix, add the suffix "-a" to the noun. Here are some examples:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| kau | kau-a | green |
| waqa | waqa-a | fiery |
| kana | kana-a | sweet |
| yalo | yalo-a | clever |
Using the Base Form[edit | edit source]
Some adjectives in Fijian are the same as the base form of the corresponding noun. In English, this would be like using "sugar" as an adjective to mean "sweet." Here are some examples of base form adjectives in Fijian:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| lolo | lolo | coconut |
| drau | drau | honey |
| qele | qele | sand |
| vatu | vatu | stone |
Note that some Fijian adjectives can also be used as nouns. For example, "kau" can mean "the color green," so "o na kau" means "the green one" or "the green thing."
Placing Adjectives in a Sentence[edit | edit source]
In Fijian, adjectives are placed after the noun they describe. For example, "na kau viti" means "the green Fiji," with "kau" coming after "viti."
Possessive Adjectives[edit | edit source]
In Fijian, possessive adjectives are formed by adding "na" before a noun. For example, "na noqu vale" means "my house," with "noqu" meaning "my" before the noun "vale."
You can also use the suffix "-qu" to create possessive adjectives. For example, "vanuaqu" means "my country," with "-qu" replacing "na."
Comparison of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
To form the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives in Fijian, use the words "vakalevu" and "levu" respectively. For example, "na kau viti vakalevu" means "the greener Fiji" or "the Fiji that is more green."
Examples[edit | edit source]
Here's a dialogue that demonstrates how to use adjectives in Fijian:
- Person 1: E vaka kece oqo na kau kana-a. (Everything here is sweet.)
- Person 2: Io, dou sa kana tiko na kana oqo. (Yes, you're eating the sweet one right now.)
- Person 1: O koya na kena makawa ena kau yalo-a. (He's the smartest one in the group.)
- Person 2: Io, ni sa lako ga taudaku ena kena bubului. (Yes, he always keeps his promises.)
Make sure to practice your Fijian with native speakers and ask them any questions you have. You can also find more resources on Polyglot Club to improve your Fijian Grammar.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
Sources[edit | edit source]