Chapter 18: The Interrogative I

Question 1

What is the interrogative marker for questions expecting the answer “yes” or “no”?

Answer 1

anei, which immediately follows the verb in affirmative sentences.
’Ua hohoni hia anei te ta’ata ’e te ’uri?
Was the man bitten by the dog?
Te ta’oto nei anei ’o Teri’i?
Is Terii sleeping?

Question 2

What is the word order in affirmative sentences?

Answer 2

verb + interrogative + subject

Question 3

What happens with adverbs with anei?

Answer 3

The adverbs or directionals always precede anei.
’Ua horo ’oi’oi mai anei ’oe?
Did you run here fast?

Question 4

What is the word order with the negative interrogative “did you not”?

Answer 4

It is the same as for any negative sentence.  anei follows the negative particle: negative + anei + subject + verb
’A it a anei ’oe 'i ta’iri ’iāna?
Did you not hit him?
’E ’ere anei 'i tō ’oe mana’o?
Is it not your idea?

Question 5

What are the three methods for asking the question “who?” or “what?” in Tahitian?

Answer 5

1. ‘o vai + noun or pronoun (who?)
   ‘O vai tēra ta’ata - Who is that man?
   ‘e aha + noun or pronoun (what?)
   ‘E aha tēra tumu rā’au? - What is that tree?
2. ‘o vai + noun + tei or te
   Te is used with verbs in the present continuous or
   future tense, while tei is used elsewhere.
   O vai te ta’ata tei horo’a hia te puta ’e te tavana?
   Which person was given the book by the chief?
3. nā vai + ‘i + verb
   This translates literally as “by whom?”
   This is used only with transitive verbs.
   Nā vai ‘i rave tā’u peni-pāpa’i?
   Who took my ballpoint pen?

Question 6

In ‘o vai + noun + tei or te sentences, what may replace te in conversation?

Answer 6

‘e
’O vai te vahine ’e tunu ‘i te ūfi ’ananahi?
Which woman will prepare the yams tomorrow?

Question 7

What questions do non-subject interrogatives ask?

Answer 7

“Whom?” “Which?” “to whom?” “whose?” “by whom?”

Question 8

‘o vai + possessive adjective

tehia + noun

Answer 8

whom? 
’O vai tā ’oe ’e ’ite ra?
Whom do you see?
which?
’O vai tā ’oe 'i horo’a ätu 'i te puta?
To whom did you give the book?

Question 9

‘ia vai

‘i tehia ta’ata

Answer 9

(to whom?)
(to which person?)
’Ua horo’a hia ’ia vai ra te puta?
To whom was the book given?
’Ua horo’a ’oe 'i te puta ’ia vai ra?
To whom did you give the book?
’Ua horo’a ’oe 'i te puta 'i tehia ta’ata?
To which person did you give the book?

Question 10

nō vai; nā vai
nō tehia ta’ata; nā tehia ta’ata
‘ō tō vai; ‘o tā vai

Answer 10

whose?
whose?
whose is?

Question 11

What is the most common form of “whose?”

Answer 11

nō vai; nā vai
nō tehia ta’ata; nā tehia ta’ata
‘ō tō vai; ‘o tā vai

Question 12

What form is best used to translate “who has the…” instead of “whose is…”?

Answer 12

‘ō tō vai; ‘o tā vai

Question 13

‘e vai
‘e tahia ta’ata
(used only with the passive voice)

Answer 13

(by whom?)
(by which person?)
’Ua rave hia tō ’oe tāāpo’o ’e vai?
By whom was your hat stolen?
‘Ua horo’a hia ’e tehia ta’ata?
By whom was it given?

Question 14

‘i ō vai

Answer 14

to, at whose place?
’Ua haere ’oe 'i ō vai mä?
To whose place did you go?
’Ua haere vau 'i ō Teri'i mā.
I went to Terii’s place.