Language/Fijian/Grammar/Using-Conjunctions
Introduction
In this lesson, we will learn about conjunctions in Fijian. Conjunctions are connecting words that join words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence. Some common conjunctions in Fijian are 'ka', 'se', 'me', and 'kei'.
Conjunctions are important in forming complex sentences and expressing relationships between ideas. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use conjunctions in Fijian to create more sophisticated sentences.
Using Conjunctions to Join Words and Phrases
Conjunctions are used to connect words and phrases in Fijian. Here are some examples of conjunctions used to join words:
- 'kei': and
- 'se': or
- 'ni...sa': neither...nor
- 'e...iko': either...or
Here are some examples of conjunctions used to join phrases:
- 'ka': and then
- 'sa rawa ni': until
- 'se kua': unless
Let's look at some examples:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| dredre kecega | drəŋɡeʁe keθeŋa | all difficulties | kei | kei | and | marau ga | marau ŋa | happiness only |
| E dua se vaka iko? | e ndua se vaka iko | Is there anything you want? | Se vaka tawamu se vaka na noqu? | se vaka tawamu se vaka na noŋɡu | Do you want yours or mine? |
Here's another example:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tiko edaidai me yaco vei au ka’u tini | tiŋɡo edaiðai me jaθo vei au kau teŋi | Stay here until I come back |
Using Conjunctions to Join Clauses
In addition to joining words and phrases, conjunctions are also used to join clauses. A clause is a group of words with its own subject and verb. Here are some common conjunctions used to join clauses:
- 'ni': because
- 'se': if
- 'ka': when
- 'me': when
Here are some examples:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Au a soli vua na kakana ni sa via kania mai. | au a soli βua na kaðana ni sa via kaɲa mai | I gave him the food because he wanted to eat it. |
| Se da sa qai lako tani? | se nda sa ŋai lako tani | What if we go out? |
| Ni sa qai laiva tani mera sa lako. | ni sa ŋai laiva tani mera sa lako | We will leave when they arrive. |
Here's another example:
| Fijian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Me vakaloloma vua ni sa bula tiko, keitou sau qai laiva tani. | me vakaloloma βua ni sa mbula tiŋɡo, keitou sau ŋai laiva tani | We will wait for him to recover before we leave. |
Practice Exercises
Now it's time to practice using conjunctions in Fijian. Complete the following exercises:
1. Translate the following sentences into Fijian:
- She doesn't like coffee or tea.
- He will go if you go.
- They will come when we call them.
2. Translate the following sentences from Fijian to English:
- Ni sa lako tale se ni sa bula tiko?
- Ka’u sa qai taviraki iko ni sa muri tani mai.
- Se kua me na laki vakacegu.
3. Use the conjunctions provided to create sentences:
- 'kei'
- 'ka'
- 'se'
- 'me'
- 'ni'
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on conjunctions in Fijian. You now know how to use conjunctions to join words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence. Remember to practice using conjunctions in your own sentences to gain fluency and mastery. In the next lesson, we will learn about prepositions in Fijian. Vinaka!