Chapter 20: Dependent Sentences I

Question 1

What are the relative pronouns for sentences beginning with “it is they who…” “it is you who…” etc.?

Answer 1

The relative pronouns are tei (past tense) and te (future and present continuous tenses).
’O vau te taora ‘i te ’ofa’i.
It is I who will throw stones.
’O vau tei taora ‘i te ’ofa’i ’inanahi ra.
It is I who threw stones yesterday.
’O vau te parau nei.
It is I who am speaking.

Question 2

When the main clause contains a verb in Tahitian, like, “I saw the man who…” on what does the construction depend?

Answer 2

It depends on the tense of the dependent clause.

Question 3

When the verb of a dependent clause in the present or past continuous, what are the forms of the relative clause?

Answer 3

’e + verb + nei (present)
’e + verb + ra (past)

Question 4

What does nei indicate in a relative clause?

Answer 4

Proximity to the speaker.
A hi ’o na ’oe ‘i te mau manu ’e ma ’ue nei.
Look at the birds which are flying.

Question 5

What does ra indicate in a relative clause?

Answer 5

Distance from the speaker.
Te ’ite ra vau ‘i ho’e vahine ’e ’aü ra.
I saw a woman who was swimming.

Question 6

What are the two possibilities when the verb of the dependent clause is in the past tense?

Answer 6

1. If a completed action is described, then ‘o tei is the relative pronoun.
   E ā’o ’oe ‘i te tamaiti ’o tei taora mai ‘i te ’ofa’i.
2. If the action described in the dependent clause is a state, then ‘i te + verb + ra’a is used.
   Te fa ’aro’o nei au ‘i te ’aiū ‘i te ta’ira’a.
   I hear the baby crying.

Question 7

When the verb of the dependent clause is in the future tense how is it formed?

Answer 7

The relative pronoun ’o te is used.
Te ta’ata ’o te ’īa ’e fa ’ahapa hia ’oia ’e te ture.
The person who steals will be punished by the law.

Question 8

What are the forms when the verb of the dependent clause is in the passive voice?

Answer 8

1. tei or ‘i, for the past.
   ’Ua inu vau ‘i te rā’au tei horo’a hia nā te pōti’i.
   I drank the medicine that was given to the girl.
2. te or ’e, for the future tense or present continuous.
   ’Ua ’ite vau ‘i te tao’a te horo’a hia nā te tavana.
   I have seen the present that will be given to the chief.

Question 9

When the subject is not the actor (“the man whom we…”) how is the clause formed?

Answer 9

The relative pronoun is replaced by the possessive adjective tā or ’o tā plus noun or pronoun.
’E inu vau ‘i te pia tā’u ’e āu maita’i.
I shall drink the beer that I like

Question 10

How is “by whom” formed?

Answer 10

‘e tei or nā tei
’Ua täpe’a hia ’oia nā tei tapapa mai ’iāna.
He was stopped by the person who pursued him.