Language/Samoan/Grammar/Past-Tense

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◀️ Present Tense — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Future Tense ▶️

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Samoan → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Verb Conjugation and Tense → Past Tense

Samoan language is known for its unique grammatical structure, and verb conjugation is an essential aspect of it. If you've been following our Samoan language course, you've learned how to conjugate verbs in the present tense. In this lesson, you will discover how to form the past tense in Samoan, including regular and irregular verbs. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to use the past tense in everyday conversations and express yourself fluently in Samoan.

Regular verbs in the past tense

To form the past tense of regular verbs in Samoan, you have to add "-i" at the end of the verb root. Here are some examples:

Samoan Pronunciation English
A'oa'o /aʔo.ʔaʔo/ Teach/Learned
Taumafai /taʔu.ma.ɸaʔi/ Started
Osooso /o.so.oso/ Comforted
Masani /ma.sa.ni/ Washed

As you can see, adding "-i" at the end of the verb root changes the verb from present tense to past tense.

Let's see some examples of using regular verbs in the past tense in sentences.

  • E a'oa'o sisifo ia Sam i le tusi ole gagana Samoa. (Sam learned to write in Samoan language.)
  • Na taumafai le i'a o le tautai i le ta'avale. (The fisherman began to load the fish into the car.)
  • Ua osooso le tinā o le fanau. (The mother comforted her child.)
  • Ua masani le vaa i le vai. (The boat was washed in the water.)

Irregular verbs in the past tense

Irregular verbs in Samoan are formed by changing the vowel sound at the end of the verb root. Here are some examples:

Samoan Pronunciation English
Alofa /a.lo.ɸa/ Loved
Auilo /au.i.lo/ Woke up
Vaai /ʋa.ʔai/ Said
Fesili /ɸe.si.li/ Thought

In the examples above, the vowel sound at the end of the verb root changes to a different vowel in the past tense. For instance, "alofa" changes to "alofe" in the past tense. Let's see some examples of using irregular verbs in the past tense:

  • Na alofa le atunu'u i le kaipara. (The country loved the captain.)
  • Ua auilo ona outou mafaufau i le Aso Faraile? (Did you wake up late on Friday?)
  • Na vaai le su'iga o le fafine. (The woman said the answer.)
  • Na fesili le alii o le pisinisi. (The businessman thought about it.)

Using time expressions with past tense

To specify the time a past action happened, you can use time expressions such as "ianei" (now), "ne'i" (just), "te'a nei" (recently), "talasolo atu" (yesterday), and "na te'a nei" (a little while ago). Here are some examples:

  • Ua alofa i tausaga ua te'a nei. (I loved in recent years.)
  • Ia ne'i ona fa'apeaina ai lou fasioti? (Did you just talk to your friend?)
  • Na vaai i le aso to'ana'i. (I said it yesterday.)
  • Na fesili lea matai i lea aso. (The chief thought about it that day.)

Using time expressions in Samoan will make your conversations more precise and show your fluency in the language.

Exercises

To practice what you've learned in this lesson, try the following exercises:

1. Conjugate the following regular verbs in the past tense: "sui", "sulu", "teuteu", "fetu", "afe";

2. Write ten sentences using regular verbs in the past tense;

3. Conjugate the following irregular verbs in the past tense: "fa'asolo", "na'o", "toe", "tu'u", "malolo";

4. Write ten sentences using irregular verbs in the past tense;

5. Translate the following sentences into Samoan: 

* I went to the market yesterday morning.
* She talked to her sister just now.
* They watched a movie last night.
* We cooked dinner for our grandparents a little while ago.

By completing these exercises, you'll reinforce what you've learned and get ready for the next lesson where you will learn how to form the future tense in Samoan.

Table of Contents - Samoan Course - 0 to A1


Greetings and Introductions


Pronouns and Possessives


Family and Relationships


Verb Conjugation and Tense


Food and Dining


Questions and Negation


Travel and Transportation


Samoan Traditions and Customs



Videos

(22) Sa/Na Past Tense | Samoan - YouTube


Other Lessons


Sources


◀️ Present Tense — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Future Tense ▶️

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