Language/Samoan/Grammar/Negative-Statements

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Samoan → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Questions and Negation → Negative Statements

Negative statements are a crucial part of any language, including Samoan. Whether it's negating verbs, adjectives or pronouns, knowing how to make negative statements is essential. In this lesson, you will learn how to use negative statements in Samoan.

Negating Verbs

Negating verbs in Samoan is relatively simple. To negate a verb, you simply add the word 'le' before the verb. For example:

Samoan	Pronunciation	English
Ou te alu	Oh-oo teh ah-loo	I am going
Ou te le alu	Oh-oo teh lay ah-loo	I am not going

As you can see in the example above, adding 'le' before the verb 'alu' (which means 'to go') turns the positive statement 'Ou te alu' (I am going) into a negative statement 'Ou te le alu' (I am not going).

Here are some more examples of negating verbs in Samoan:

• Ou te fiakafia || Oh-oo teh fee-ah-ka-fee-ah || I am happy
• Ou te le fiafia || Oh-oo teh lay fee-ah-fee-ah || I am not happy

• Ou te alofa ia te oe || Oh-oo teh ah-loh-fah ee-ah teh oh-eh || I love you
• Ou te le alofa ia te oe || Oh-oo teh lay ah-loh-fah ee-ah teh oh-eh || I do not love you

Negating Adjectives

Negating adjectives in Samoan is also straightforward. To negate an adjective, you just add 'le' before the adjective. For example:

Samoan	Pronunciation	English
Lea ua 'ele'ele	Leh-ah oo-ah eh-leh-eh-leh	The sky is dark
Lea ua le 'ele'ele	Leh-ah oo-ah lay eh-leh-eh-leh	The sky is not dark

As you can see in the example above, adding 'le' before the adjective 'ele' (which means 'dark') turns the positive statement 'Lea ua 'ele'ele' (the sky is dark) into a negative statement 'Lea ua le 'ele'ele' (the sky is not dark).

Here are some more examples of negating adjectives in Samoan:

• 'O se mea ma'a lelei lava le fa'alavelave || 'Oh seh meh-ah mah-ah leh-leh-lee lah-vah leh fah-ah-lah-veh-veh || Something very good came out of the trouble
• 'O se mea ma'a lelei lava le le fa'alavelave || 'Oh seh meh-ah mah-ah leh-leh-lee lah-vah leh lay leh fah-ah-lah-veh-veh || Something very good didn't come out of the trouble

• Ua māfana tele le taeao || Oo-ah mah-fah-nah teh-leh leh tah-eh-ah-oh || The morning is very warm
• Ua le māfana tele le taeao || Oo-ah leh mah-fah-nah teh-leh leh tah-eh-ah-oh || The morning is not very warm

Negating Pronouns

In Samoan, negating pronouns is done by using a different pronoun that has a negative connotation. Here are some examples:

Samoan	Pronunciation	English
Ia'u	ee-ah-oo	Me (positive)
E auai ia'u	eh ah-oo-eye ee-ah-oo	Come with me (positive)
'E leai se isi	Eh lay-eye seh ee-see	No one else
'E le auai se isi	Eh lay ah-oo-eye seh ee-see	No one came with me (negative)

As shown in the example above, the negative pronoun 'E le' is used to negate the pronoun 'Ia'u' (which means 'me'), and its use changes the meaning of the sentence from positive to negative.

Here are some more examples of negating pronouns in Samoan:

• 'O ai la so'o se tasi || 'Oh eye lah soh-oh seh tah-see || Who is there (positive)
• 'E le tasi || Eh lay tah-see || Nobody is there (negative)

• 'O ai la o matou manaoga || 'Oh eye lah oh mah-tow mah-nah-oh-gah || What are our goals (positive)
• 'E le o matou manaoga || Eh lay oh mah-tow mah-nah-oh-gah || We don't have any goals (negative)

Conclusion

Negating verbs, adjectives, and pronouns in Samoan is relatively simple. By adding 'le' before the verb or adjective, or using a negative pronoun, you can quickly create negative statements. Remember to practice these concepts by creating your sentences while interacting with Samoan speakers. In the next lesson, you will learn how to ask questions in Samoan.

Table of Contents - Samoan Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Pronouns and Possessives

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationship Status

  ---

Verb Conjugation and Tense

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Asking Questions
• Negative Statements

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Directions and Locations

  ---

Samoan Traditions and Customs

• Traditional Celebrations
• Customs and Etiquette

Other Lessons

• Personal Pronouns
• Conditional Mood
• Pronouns
• Future Tense
• Questions
• How to Use Have
• Plurals
• 0 to A1 Course
• Past Tense

Sources

• Samoan language - Wikipedia
• Samoan Grammar | LEARN101.ORG
• A Manual for the Study and Teaching of the Samoan Language as ...

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