Almost any word may be used as a verb by prefixing the verbal particles, but some words are naturally verbs as being the names of actions and not of things. There are also verbs which have special forms as such by means of a prefix or termination. Verbal particles precede the verb; they have a temporal force.
1. The verbal particles are ka, ko. The particles are written apart from the verb, but the speakers like to join them to the governing pronouns of the first and second persons singular, gu, o.
Ka is used both of present and of future time: nia ka bae uri he speaks thus, ka urina if that be so, tasi doo taa gera ka odea what will they do? lelea ka rodo go till nightfall; the illatives fi, fe, may be added.
Ko is used only with the personal pronoun, second singular o, and may express either present or future time: the illative may be added.
The preposition fuana to him, to it, in order that, is used as a subjunctive or optative.
2. Time and Moods: A subjunctive is formed by ana if, when, followed by the particle ka, or by the use of saea.
Conditional affirmation is expressed by saumala.
The illatives are fi and fe, and mean, then, in that case, following upon, just now, for the first time: ta ka fi uri then said he, gami mifi saitamana na tala uta and how shall we know the way?
Fe as an illative denotes, in that case, following upon; fe is also used like ha'i in Sa'a, to denote repetition or continuance or restoration: na abana e fe boeboela lau his hand was restored whole again, gera ka fe dao toona they will certainly reach him, daro fe lea lau go they went on again, da tefe bae ana tesi baela they all cried out together.
Na is used following the verb to form a preterit: nia mae na he is dead. Finality is shown by the use of sui: sui na it is all finished, nia kafi dao sui na when he shall have arrived, sui nana it is finished, sui ta thereupon, after that.