Chapter 23: Desiderative, Necessitative, Conditional

Question 1

What is the desiderative?

Answer 1

It expresses desire. “I want to…”

Question 2

What is the first way the desiderative is expressed?

Answer 2

te/’e/’ua (present/future/past) hina’aro + subject + ‘e + verb.
Te hina’aro nei au ’e ho’o mai ‘i te heipūpū
I want to buy a shell necklace.
’E hina’aro vau ’e tunu ‘i te ūfi.
I want to prepare the yams.

Question 3

What is the second way that the desiderative is expressed? (when the subject of the two verbs is different)

Answer 3

te/’e/’ua hina’aro + subject + ‘e/’ia + verb + subject.
Te hina’aro nei au ’e tauturu mai ’oe ’ia’u.
I want you to help me.
Te hina’aro nei ’oia ’ia hamani vau ‘i te fare.
He wants me to build a house.

Question 4

How is the desiderative expressed in the negative?

Answer 4

negative + subject + verb + ‘i te + verb (past)
negative + subject + verb + ‘e + verb (present)
’Aita vau ‘i hina’aro ‘i te haere.
I did not want to go.
‘Aita vau ‘i hina’aro ‘i te haere ’e taī’a.
I did not want to go fishing.

Question 5

What is a less direct way to express the desiderative? (would you like to)

Answer 5

’E ti’a anei ’ia ’oe ’ia himene?

Would you like to sing?

Question 6

What is the necessitative?

Answer 6

It expresses a need or compulsion to do something. “I must…” “I have to…”

Question 7

How is the necessitative formed?

Answer 7

‘e/’ia/’ua + verb + ihoa/ho’i + subject
E haere ihoa vau ’e rave mai ‘i te farāoa.
I must go and get some bread.
’Ia tae ihoa tāua ‘i te tahua taura’a manureva ‘i te hora piti.
We two must be at the airport at two o’clock.
’Ua haere ihoa vau ’e rave mai ‘i te farāoa.
I had to go and get some bread (and did so).
’E haere ho’i vau 7 te fare toa.
I must/ought to go to the shop.

Question 8

Which is stronger, ihoa or ho’i?

Answer 8

Ihoa is stronger than ho’i. Ihoa is close to “must” while ho’i is close to “ought”.

Question 9

How is real compulsion rendered in Tahitian?

Answer 9

Real compulsion is rendered rather by the imperative in Tahitian. Ihoa simply means “indeed”, and ho’i, “besides, so”.

Question 10

How is the prohibitive form of the necessitative formed?

Answer 10

It is the same as the negative imperative.

Question 11

When one should have done something but did not, what form is employed?

Answer 11

‘e mea + verb + ihoa/ho’i + subject.
’Eiaha ihoa ’oe ’e tāpū ‘i te vahie.
You must not cut the wood.

Question 12

What is the strongest necessitative apart from the imperative?

Answer 12

'ia + verb + mau + subject... 'e ti'a ai
’la ’amu mau vau ’e ti’a ai.
I really must eat.
’Eiaha roa vau ’e ’amu.
I really must not eat.

Question 13

What is the weaker necessitative?

Answer 13

‘e mea maita’i + ‘ia + verb
It is like “it is recommended” in English.
E mea maita’i ’ia ’amu vau.
It would be well if I ate.

Question 14

How is profitable gain indicated?

Answer 14

“to need to”
’E mea faufa ’a ’ia ’u ’ia haere ’e ti’i ‘i te moni.
I need to go and get some money.
’E ’ere 7 te mea faufa ’a ’ia ’u ’ia haere ’e ti’i ‘i te moni.
I do not need to go and get some money.

Question 15

What words introduce the conditional clause?

Answer 15

1. mai te peu ē
2. mai te mea ē
   ’E ta ’iri vau ’ia ’oe, mai te peu ē ’e ha ’aparari ’oe ‘i tēra hapaina.
   I shall hit you if you break that glass.
   Mai te mea ē ’e haere mai ’oe ’ananahi, ’e horo’a ātu vau ‘i te tao’a nā ’oe.
   If you come tomorrow I shall give you a present.

Question 16

What changes when the action does not actually take place in a conditional sentence?

Answer 16

Ahiri replace the introductory words.
Ahiri vau ‘i hainani ‘i te ’ana, ’e ’ore ia tā’u mau mā’a tanu ’e ’amu hia ’e te pua’atoro.
If I had built a fence (but I did not), my vegetables would not have been eaten by the cattle.

Question 17

How is “would have… if” expressed in Tahitian?

Answer 17

‘e mea + verb, followed by ahiri.
’E mea tāpü vau ‘i te vahie, ahiri ’oe ’e horo’a mai 7 te moni maita’i nā’u.
I would have cut the wood if you had paid me well.