Chapter 17: Imperatives and Airport Vocabulary

Question 1

What are the three degrees of imperatives in Tahitian?

Answer 1

1. Strongest: a + verb, an absolute command. It may precede any verb stem.
   A tāmā’a!
   Eat!
2. ‘e + verb, a persuasive command.
   E haere mai ’outou.
   Come here. (think of this as accompanied with a gesture).
3. ‘ia + verb, the exhortative form, “let us, let them”, etc.
   ’la tāpe’a maita’i ’ona ‘i teie tao’a.
   Let him look after this present.

Question 2

What are the prohibitive forms of the imperative?

Answer 2

‘eiaha + the negative particle + verb
1. ’Eiaha ’e ’amu ‘i tele ūfi.
Do not eat this yam.
2 and 3. ‘Eiaha ’oia ’ia pa’imi ‘i te pua’a.
May he not seek the pigs.

Question 3

te tahua taura’a manureva

Answer 3

the airport

Question 4

te taiete

Answer 4

the society, the company

Question 5

te horo patete

Answer 5

the passenger

Question 6

te vāhi fa’ari’ira’a

Answer 6

the reception area

Question 7

te rātere

Answer 7

the tourist

Question 8

ātea

Answer 8

distant, far away

Question 9

‘oia ho’i

Answer 9

namely

Question 10

Marite

Answer 10

USA

Question 11

Farāni

Answer 11

France

Question 12

Niu Terani

Answer 12

New Zealand

Question 13

te haere mai nei

Answer 13

who approaches

Question 14

te tauiha’a

Answer 14

the baggage, suitcase

Question 15

te pere’o’o

Answer 15

the taxi, car

Question 16

te hotera

Answer 16

the hotel

Question 17

āni

Answer 17

to ask

Question 18

‘e nehenehe anei tā ‘oe ‘e rave ‘ia’u?

Answer 18

Can you take me?

Question 19

te ta’ata-fa’ahoro-pere’o’o

Answer 19

the taxi driver

Question 20

‘afa’i

Answer 20

to transport

Question 21

fa’a’ite

Answer 21

to tell

Question 22

fa’ahoro

Answer 22

to drive

Question 23

tei hea?

Answer 23

where?

Question 24

hava’i

Answer 24

to put, deposit