Lesson 14 Tense Markers (Gauna ni Vosa)
Lesson 14 Tense Markers To talk about the past, present, or future, you just need to swap the marker before the verb.
1. The Three Main Markers Lesson 14 Tense Markers
| Tense | Marker | Example (with Lako – Go) | Translation |
| Present | Sa … tiko | Au sa lako tiko. | I am going. |
| Past | Sa … oti | Au sa lako oti. | I went / I have gone. |
| Future | Na | Au na lako. | I will go. |
2. Using “Oti” (Finished)
Oti is a very powerful word. If you place it after an action, it means the action is complete.
- Au sa kana oti — I have finished eating (I’m done).
- Sa moce oti — He/She has already fallen asleep.
Daily Important Conversation: Talking about your day
Fijians will often ask what you’ve been up to or what your plans are.
- Friend: Na cava o na cakava nikua? (What will you do today?)
- You: Au na lako i na wasawasa. (I will go to the ocean.)
- Friend: O sa kana oti? (Have you eaten already?)
- You: Io, au sa kana oti ena mataka. (Yes, I ate in the morning.)
Vocabulary List (Lesson 14)
- Cakava: To do / To make
- Nanuma: To remember / To think
- Bogi: Night
- Mataka lailai: Early morning
Small Test 14: The Time Traveler
Try to translate these into Fijian:
- I will sleep.
- I am working. (Present continuous)
- I have finished working. (Past/Finished)
- Will you go to town? (Hint: O na lako…?)
The Final Stretch!
You are almost there! You have one lesson left in your syllabus.
In Lesson 15, we will look at Sentence Structure (VOS Flow). Fijian sentence structure is the “reverse” of English, and once you get the hang of it, you’ll be thinking like a native speaker.
Are you ready for the final lesson, or should we practice our tenses a bit more?