Grammar and Vocabulary of the Lau Language by Walter G. Ivens
page 26 of 148 (17%)
page 26 of 148 (17%)
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The preposition _fuana_ to him, to it, in order that, is used as a subjunctive or optative. 2. Time and Moods: A subjunctive is formed by _ana_ if, when, followed by the particle _ka_, or by the use of _saea_. Conditional affirmation is expressed by _saumala_. The illatives are _fi_ and _fe_, and mean, then, in that case, following upon, just now, for the first time: _ta ka fi uri_ then said he, _gami mifi saitamana na tala uta_ and how shall we know the way? _Fe_ as an illative denotes, in that case, following upon; _fe_ is also used like _ha'i_ in Sa'a, to denote repetition or continuance or restoration: _na abana e fe boeboela lau_ his hand was restored whole again, _gera ka fe dao toona_ they will certainly reach him, _daro fe lea lau_ go they went on again, _da tefe bae ana tesi baela_ they all cried out together. _Na_ is used following the verb to form a preterit: _nia mae na_ he is dead. Finality is shown by the use of _sui_: _sui na_ it is all finished, _nia kafi dao sui na_ when he shall have arrived, _sui nana_ it is finished, _sui ta_ thereupon, after that. For the imperative the simple verb is used: _o lea amu_ go away; _fasi_ may be added for politeness: _lea fasi amu_ you go! 3. Negative Particles: The foregoing particles are not used in |
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