This extremely important word performs the function of a relative and always implies an antecedent, but it is not always a pronoun, nor is it always posbible to define its use in the sentence, or, when associated with a verbal particle, to interpret it.

[1]. As a Relative pronoun ai must be translated in accordance with the antecedent of the sentence in which it is used. In this way the word, [a] may be said to mean which, by which, as Ona taomia lea, oti ai, Then he was crushed, by which he died. "O le malaga lea na ia momoli ai le alofa o nuu 'ese i le Ekalesia o i lerusalena e fesoasoani ai i lo latou matitiva." That was the journey in which he conveyed the gift of other lands to the church which was in Jerusalem with which to help their poverty. [Dr. Nisbet]. [b] May be said to take the place of the Personal Pronoun, Singular or Plural, as O lë aupito ane i ai, He that was next to him, 'Oe mai ai le tasi Tui, Another Tui answered her. Se'i lua, silitonua mai ai, Do you two ask of them. [In these sentences the antecedent has been expressed in previous sentence].

NOTE: The Relative pronouns of the Nominative Case are represented by 'o lë [Sing.], and 'o ë [Pl.], translated who, that, as 'O lë 'aupito ane i ai, He who was next to him. 'O ë sa outou o mai ai, Those with whom you came. Here the last word of the sentence refers back to the Relative Pronoun as is frequently done where the Relative is the subject of the sentence, but according to Samaon ideas needs to be repeated in connection with the new Subject as in outou [you], as in English, Those with whom you came.

[c] Ai is used for the Interrogative Personal Pronouns. [1] In the Nominative: as, O ai i latou? Who are they? O ai o ia? Who is he [she] ? O ai lea? Who is that? Who is there? [2] In the Possessive; as, O le mea a ai lenei? Whose is this thing? O le fale o ai lea? Whose is that house? [3] In the Objective; as, E 'ave iä te äi lenei tusi? To whom shall I take this letter? Na 'e maua iä te äi lenei mea? From whom did you get this thing?

NOTE: In accordance with the rule already ex-plained under Accent [See § II] the Relative ai with the accent on the ultima may be used in asking the question, Of whose family art thou? So sa aï 'ea oe? [Kene. xxxii. 17.] [Sa-family; so-one of].

[d] As in the Possessive and Objective relations given above, so the Relative ai may be construed with other Preposi-tions; as, mo and ma, i.e.: The following example will suffice to illustrate this, Na faia e ai lenei mea? This thing was done by whom? Ma te le mafaia ona le tautala i mea ua ma vaai i ai, ma faalogo i ai. We cannot but speak of the thing which we have seen and heard [Galu. iv. 20] Literally: We are not able to not speak of the things, [when] we have seen them and heard them. [From these examples the rule may be derived that neuter verbs like vaai and faalogo require the sign of the Objective I with the pronoun ' and that as will be seen more fully as we proceed, mea as an antecedent requires ai in the relative clause].

An idiom that present some difficulty to beginner is the use of the Relative ai with the verbal participles. In order to appreciate this particular idiom two preliminary observa-tions on the Samoan substitute for the Verb "to be" appear to be necessary:-

[1] The Verb "to be" may be expressed by placing the subject and predicate in simple apposition in sentences in which the Verb "to be" would be the link of connection. as,

[2] The Verb "to be" is expressed by the Verbal particles; te, ë, na, sa, o, lo’o, as, --- `Ou te i ai, I will be there. E i ai 'o ia i lea mea, He is there in that place. Na a'u i ai, I was there Sa la i ai, They [two] were there. O i ai 'o ia, He is there [now]. O loo i ai 'o ia. He is there.

NOTE: [2] It will be noted that the Relative with Verbal particles is, i ai; that is to say, the Relative ai with the Preposition I, as already noted in connection with Neuter verbs, such as vaai, see; faalogo, hear, etc.

The Relative ai with Verbal particles in asking the question, Is there? as, E ai se vaa? Is there a canoe? Pe ai 'ea söu vaa? Whether is there your canoe? [Have you a canoe?]

In the past or perfect tense a similar question would substitute the required verbal particle, 'ua, na. Po 'ua i ai söu vaa? Pe na i ai se vaa i lea mea? [Was there a canoe there?]

NOTE: [1] On Tutuila isi takes the place of ai in similar sentences. as, E isi sau ava? Have you a wife [Is there your wife]

NOTE: [2] Of course in the perfect tense other and more explicit terms may be used instead of i ai, as, Po na 'e maua. se vaa? Did you get a boat?

The Relative ai, with mea in the Antecedent clause, as, 'O le mea 'ou te mau ai, the place where I dwell. 'O le mea 'ou te i ai a'u, the place where I am.