Reference · Pronouns & possessives
Tongan grammar charts
Use these eight groups of pronoun and possessive charts while you work through the course. For step-by-step explanations, follow the lessons or browse the topic guides.
Preposed Pronouns
Subject markers that follow tense particles (naʻa, ʻoku, kuo, te).
| Singular | Dual | Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st excl. | ku / ou / u | ma | mau |
| 1st incl. | – | ta | tau |
| 2nd | ke | mo | mou |
| 3rd | ne | na | nau |
- ku: after naʻa (past)
- ou: after ʻoku (present)
- u: after kuo (perfect), te (future)
Postposed Pronouns
Emphatic and object forms. Used for emphasis or after prepositions.
| Singular | Dual | Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st excl. | au | kimaua | kimautolu |
| 1st incl. | – | kitaua | kitautolu |
| 2nd | koe | kimoua | kimoutolu |
| 3rd | ia | kinaua | kinautolu |
Definite Possessives
Used before nouns to show possession. ʻe-class is for things you control or produce; ho-class is for inherent or permanent things.
ʻe-class
actions, thoughts, children, food, tools
| Singular | Dual | Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st excl. | ʻeku | ʻema | ʻemau |
| 1st incl. | – | ʻeta | ʻetau |
| 2nd | hoʻo | hoʻomo | hoʻomou |
| 3rd | ʻene | ʻena | ʻenau |
ho-class
body parts, relatives, house, land
| Singular | Dual | Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st excl. | hoku | homa | homau |
| 1st incl. | – | hota | hotau |
| 2nd | ho | homo | homou |
| 3rd | hono | hona | honau |
Indefinite Possessives
Used with indefinite nouns: "a ... of mine" rather than "my ..."
ʻe-class
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st excl. | haʻaku | haʻamau |
| 1st incl. | – | haʻatau |
| 2nd | haʻo | haʻamou |
| 3rd | haʻane | haʻanau |
ho-class
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st excl. | haku | hamau |
| 1st incl. | – | hatau |
| 2nd | hao | hamou |
| 3rd | hano | hanau |
- ʻa hai? whose? (ʻe-class)
- ʻo hai? whose? (ho-class)
Postposed Possessives
Used after the noun: "the book is mine" rather than "my book"
ʻe-class
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st excl. | ʻaʻaku | ʻaʻamau |
| 1st incl. | – | ʻaʻatau |
| 2nd | ʻaʻau | ʻaʻamou |
| 3rd | ʻaʻana | ʻaʻanau |
ho-class
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st excl. | ʻoʻoku | ʻoʻomau |
| 1st incl. | – | ʻoʻotau |
| 2nd | ʻoʻou | ʻoʻomou |
| 3rd | ʻoʻona | ʻoʻonau |
Beneficiary Pronouns
Express "for someone": who the action benefits.
ʻe-class (maʻa + pronoun)
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st excl. | maʻaku | maʻamau |
| 1st incl. | – | maʻatau |
| 2nd | maʻau | maʻamou |
| 3rd | maʻana | maʻanau |
ho-class (moʻo + pronoun)
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st excl. | moʻoku | moʻomau |
| 1st incl. | – | moʻotau |
| 2nd | moʻou | moʻomou |
| 3rd | moʻona | moʻonau |
Emotional Possessives
Express pity or affection: "my poor ..." or "my dear ..."
| Person | ʻe-class | ho-class |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sing. | siʻeku | siʻoku |
| 2nd sing. | siʻo | siʻo |
| 3rd sing. | siʻene | siʻono |
| 1st excl. pl. | siʻemau | siʻomau |
| 1st incl. pl. | siʻetau | siʻotau |
| 2nd pl. | siʻomou | siʻomou |
| 3rd pl. | siʻenau | siʻonau |
- siʻa: emotional indefinite article ("a poor/dear ...")
Impersonal Forms
Generic "one" / "oneself" forms used for general statements.
| Type | ʻe-class | ho-class |
|---|---|---|
| Pronoun | kita | kita |
| Definite possessive | ʻete | hoto |
| Indefinite possessive | haʻate | hato |
| Postposed possessive | ʻaʻata | ʻoʻota |
| Beneficiary | maʻata | moʻota |