Chapter 9: The Causative Verb Flashcards
What is the meaning of the causative form?
It means “to cause to be done.” “To have something done.”
What are the two causative prefixes?
fa’a and ha’a.
tupu - to grow
fa’atupu - to make grow.
‘ite - to know
fa’a’ite - to explain, make known
ta’i - to cry
fa’ata’i - to make someone cry
maita’i - good
ha’amaita’i - to do good
‘ino - bad
fa’a’ino - to do evil
‘ahu - clothes
fa’a’ahu - to clothe someone (get dressed?)
nehenehe - beautiful
fa’anehenehe - to clean
Are there parts of speech in Tahitian?
No. It is defined by its sentence slot and the function it performs in the sentence.
What is the third causitive prefix and its meaning?
tā-, meaning “to put something to use.”
tihota - sugar
tātihota - to use sugar on something.
paru - bait
tāparu - to beg
How may any common noun become a passive impersonal verb?
Simply by the addition of hia as a suffix to the noun. ta’ata - man, person; ta’atahia to become populous. mahāna - sun; mahānahia to become sunny.
