A Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan Language, with English and Samoan vocabulary

Adverbs

page 39

Adverbs

The adverb is often expressed by a noun joined to the verb by the preposition ma; as Na ia tautala mai ma le ita, lit. he talked with anger, he talked angrily. Sometimes the adverb comes between the verb and its directive particle; as ‘ua potopoto ‘uma mai, they are all gathered. Or it comes after: us ‘ua alu atu so‘u ‘o ia, he went constantly.

Sometimes the adverb procedes the verb, but more commonly it follows; as ‘Ua vave oti, he is soon dead; ‘Ua savali ta‘alise, he walks quickly.

Sometimes it is expressed by two verbs: ‘Ua loa ona sau, he came long ago, lit. it is long his coming, or since he came.