Language/Samoan/Grammar/Questions

Samoan Grammar - Questions

Hi Samoan learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about questions in Samoan. Asking questions is an essential part of any language. In Samoan, asking questions is straightforward, and we will learn some basic rules and structures for making questions. We will also learn some cultural information and interesting customs that will make the learning process more enjoyable. So, let's get started!

Basic Question Structure

To form a question in Samoan, you start with either a question word or an interrogative particle 'ua' or 'e' followed by the subject and the verb. Below is a simple example:

Samoan	Translation	Form
Ua e alu lea i le fale? Ua alu lea i le fale?	Did he/she go to the house?	Ua (interrogative particle) + Subject + Verb

In Samoan, there are a few different question words you can use, and they are as follows:

Samoan	English	Usage
O fea?	Where?	To ask about a place
O ai?	Who?	To ask about a person or people
O le a se'i faitauina?	When?	To ask about time
O a?	What?	To ask about a thing or an action
Pe a manao atu oe e...?	Do you want to...?	To ask for permission

It is essential to note that Samoan word order can be flexible. In questions, the verb can come before or after the subject. So, the following two sentences are both correct.

Samoan	Translation	Form
Manatua lou tusi e?	Did you remember your book?	Verb + Subject
Lou tusi e manatua?	Did you remember your book?	Subject + Verb

Polite Questions

In Samoan culture, respect is essential, and therefore, it is common to use polite language, especially when addressing older people or people in authority. To make a question polite, you simply add the word 'fa'amolemole' or 'talofa' at the beginning of the sentence. Here are some examples:

Samoan	Translation	Form
Talofa, ua mavae le polokalame i le vasega o lo'o tali i le ola fiafia i lea aso.	Hello, May I please have the programme for the department responding to happy life on this day?	Polite expression + Interrogative
Fa'amolemole, ou te fia fa'apefea e sau ai lau vaai?	Excuse me, how may I help you?	Polite expression + Question word

Tag Questions

In Samoan, tag questions are also commonly used. A tag question is a short question added to the end of a sentence to confirm or clarify something. In Samoan, tag questions are formed by repeating the subject and adding the tag 'e le?' after the verb. For example:

Samoan	Translation	Form
Ua alu lea i le fale e le?	He/she went to the house, didn't he/she?	Statement + Tag question

Examples of Dialogue

Let's take a look at a dialogue to see how questions are used in Samoan.

• Person 1: Talofa lava, o fea lou gagana?
• Person 2: O lo'u gagana Samoan.
• Person 1: O ai lou aiga?
• Person 2: O lou aiga o le Tofaeono.

Translation:

• Person 1: Hello, what is your language?
• Person 2: My language is Samoan.
• Person 1: Who is your family?
• Person 2: My family is Tofaeono.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have learned about the basic structure and rules for forming questions in Samoan. We have covered some question words, polite questions, and tag questions. It's always a good idea to practice making questions, and you can find native speakers on Polyglot Club. Feel free to ask them any questions!

To improve your Samoan Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Samoan Language
• Samoan Culture
• Question