These are declined by means of the same particles and prepositions as the noun, except the accusative, which takes the preposition used with proper names, and in addition an euphonic particle te, as Ia te aʻu, ia te ʻoulua. That it is merely euphonic seems proved by its absence in kindred dialects; e.g., Tahitian and Niuean. The first and third persons, dual aud plural, in every case take i before the pronoun; as ʻo i maua.

The dual is formed from lua, usually by eliminating the l, and prefixing ta, ma, ʻou, la; as taua, maua, ʻoulua, laua.

The plural is formed from tou, a contraction of tolu, which appears in Niue and Tongan, mautolu. To this is prefixed the particles, ta, ma, ʻou, la; as tatou, matou, ʻoutou, latou. The same rules which regulate the o and a before the genitive of the noun regulate also their use with the pronoun.

The inclusive form of the pronoun is used when two or more persons speak of themselves inclusively; as Tatou te o, let us go. The exclusive form is used by two or more persons speaking of themselves to a third party not included: Ua matou o mai ia te ʻoe, we are come to you.

The sign of the nominative, ʻo, is subject to the same rules as in the nouns—except the third person. For euphony the ʻo is sometimes used after the verb: Ua alu ʻo ia, He is gone.

Personal Pronouns

possessive pronouns

It is probable that these are formed from the personal pronoun by prefixing the articles le, se, and then eliding the e; as le aʻu, laʻu, se aʻu, saʻu. The latter is an indefinite form.

In the distributive pronouns, taʻitasi is more restricted in meaning than the English “each.” Thus, ia taʻitasi ma sau would mean, let each one come separately.

distributive pronouns

Taʻitasi, each.^*Taʻitasi uma, every.

So before a personal pronoun; as—

So maua, one of us two. So ʻoulua, one of you two, etc.^†

demonstrative pronouns

Singular

• ʻO lenei. this; sinei, a diminutive.^‡

• ʻO lea, ʻo lena, ʻo lela, that.

Plural

• Ia and nei, these.

• Na, those; (la).

Sea, sisi, siasi, sinasi, diminutives.

indefinite pronouns

• Nisi (ni isi), isi, some, others.

• Ni. some, any. Nai, some (a few).

To avoid an indecent word it is better to omit the ʻo before these. Where it must have ʻo, as at the beginning of a sentence, then use isi: ʻO isi.

• Se tasi, le tasi, one, another, the other.

• Le isi, the other. Se isi, another.

• Au mai ni niu. Bring me some nuts.

• Au mai se tasi, Bring me also another.

relative pronouns

Personal pronouns are also used as relatives: O ia te i latou tupuga, whose are the ancestors; lit. there is to them ancestors.

Singular

• ʻO le, who, that.

Plural

• ʻO e, who, that.

Ai is also constantly used in a relative sentence; as Ona taon[gap — reason: unclear]lea, oti ai. Then he was crushed, by which he died. It is used for him, O le aupito ane i ai. He that was next to him. Her: Oe mai ai le tasi Tui, Another Tui answered her. Them: Seʻi lua silitonua mai ai, Ask of them. Where: Se mea e saofaʻi ai, A place where to sit. There: Ua i ai le aitu, The god was there.

interrogatives

Here also as in the personal pronoun the ʻo of the nominative is omitted, except in the third personal pronoun following the interrogation: O ai i latou? Who are they? O ai o ia? Who is he?

In asking the name of a person, o ai, and not o le a, is used: O ai lona igoa? Who is his name? (For Eug.: What is his name?)

ʻO ai is declined in the same way as the personal pronoun. The singular and the plural are the same.

• ʻO ai? who? singular and plural.

• ʻO le a? what? (singular). ʻO a? (plural).

• Se a? what? (indefinite). Ni a? (plural).

• Le fea? se fea? which?

Such of these as are declinable, are declined as the personal pronoun; ʻo ai, who; o and a ai, whose; mo and ma ai, etc. The others take i with the accusative; i lona, his; i lenei, this.