Lesson 15 Sentence Structure (VOS Flow)
Lesson 15 Sentence Structure In English, we usually say: Subject + Verb + Object (“I see the dog”). In formal/traditional Fijian, the order is often: Verb + Object + Subject (VOS).
However, in daily conversation, Fijians often use a simpler structure that starts with the Person (the pronoun).
1. The Pronouns (The “Who”) Lesson 15 Sentence Structure
- Au: I
- O iko (or ‘O’): You
- O koya: He / She / It
- Keitou: We (small group)
- Kemudou: You (plural/group)
- Era: They
2. Building the Sentence
To make a sentence, follow this formula:
Pronoun + Tense Marker + Verb + Object
- English: I will eat the fish.
- Fijian: Au (I) + na (will) + kana (eat) + na ika (the fish).
- Full Sentence: Au na kana na ika.
- English: He is washing the car.
- Fijian: O koya (He) + sa (is) + savisavi (washing) + na motoka (the car) + tiko (-ing).
- Full Sentence: O koya sa savisavi na motoka tiko.
Daily Important Conversation: The Final Farewell
As you finish your lessons and prepare to use your Fijian in the real world, here is how you say goodbye.
- You: Vinaka vakalevu na veivakavulici. (Thank you very much for the teaching.)
- Teacher: Vinaka na vuli! O sa vosa Vakaviti vinaka. (Thanks for learning! You speak Fijian well.)
- You: Au na lako tiko nikua, ia au na lesu mai. (I am going today, but I will return.)
- Teacher: Moce mada, sota tale! (Goodbye, see you again!)
Final Vocabulary List (Lesson 15)
- Lesu mai: To return / come back
- Vosa: To speak / word
- Vakavulici: To teach
- Matau: Skillful / Expert
Small Test 15: The Graduation Test
Let’s combine everything from the whole syllabus:
- I see a big black dog. (See = Rai)
- They will eat the breadfruit. (They = Era, Breadfruit = Uto)
- My father is sleeping in the house.
- I have finished buying the coconuts.
Congratulations! (Sa Vinaka na Vuli!)
You have completed the entire 15-lesson syllabus! You now have the tools to:
- Greet people with respect.
- Buy food and bargain at the market.
- Navigate transport and directions.
- Describe your family and your health.
- Speak in the past, present, and future.
Would you like me to grade your final test, or shall we do a “Final Review” session of any specific module you found difficult?