Kapeka Tūmahi (verbal clauses – VSO)
Structures that initiate active or stative verbal sentences, following the Verb-Subject-Object pattern.
- kei te
- present continuous aspect; an action currently happening
- e ... ana
- continuous aspect; an ongoing action in the past, present, or future depending on context
- kua
- perfect aspect; an action that has already been completed or a state that has been reached
- ka
- inceptive aspect; the beginning of a new action, commonly used for future events or narrative sequences
- i
- past tense marker; a completed action in the past
- i te
- past continuous aspect; an ongoing action that was happening in the past
Hanganga Taurite (equational clauses – identification and classification)
Non-verbal clauses used to specify identity, ownership, or classification.
- ko
- used for specifying identity, naming, or highlighting the subject
- he
- classifying particle used to state "a" or "some", or to describe a quality or attribute
Ngā Tohu Noun (determiners and articles)
Used to specify number, definiteness, or selection within noun phrases.
- te
- singular definite article meaning "the"
- ngā
- plural definite article meaning "the"
- tētahi
- singular determiner meaning "a", "a certain", or "one of"
- ētahi
- plural determiner meaning "some", "certain", or "others"
- tētahi atu
- singular determiner meaning "another" or "an additional one"
- ētahi atu
- plural determiner meaning "some others" or "additional ones"
Ngā Tohu Whakaatu (demonstratives)
Used to indicate location relative to the speaker or listener.
- tēnei
- this (near speaker, singular)
- ēnei
- these (near speaker, plural)
- tēnā
- that (near listener, singular)
- ēnā
- those (near listener, plural)
- tērā
- that (distant from both, singular)
- ērā
- those (distant from both, plural)
Hanganga Taurite Whakakahore (equative negation)
Used to negate equative clauses formed with "ko" or "he".
- ehara
- equative negator meaning "is not" or "are not"
Hanganga Whakakahore (negation)
Structures used to negate actions, states, or existence.
- kāore
- general negation used for statements and clauses
- kāore e
- negative continuous or present tense
- kāore i
- negative past tense
- e kore
- negative future tense meaning "will not"
- kāore he
- existential negation meaning "there is no"
- kāore ... e taea
- inability construction meaning "cannot" or "unable to"
- kei ...
- negative precautionary construction meaning "lest" or "in case"
Hanganga Wāhi (locative clauses)
Structures indicating the physical or temporal location of a subject.
- kei
- present-time locative; indicates where someone or something is right now
- i
- past-time locative; indicates where someone or something was
- ki
- directional locative; indicates movement toward a place, object, or person
Hanganga Tohutohu me te Hiahia (commands, purpose, and desire)
Particles used to express commands, desires, purposes, or obligations.
- kia
- used to express a wish, desire, purpose ("so that", "in order to"), or to form mild commands or requests
- me
- weak imperative; indicates "should", "must", or "had better"
- hei
- used to express purpose, intended role, or future function
- kia ... ai
- purpose construction meaning "so that" or "in order that"
Hanganga Whai Take (reason and cause clauses)
Connectives used to introduce a reason, cause, or justification for an action.
- nō te mea
- conjunction meaning "because"
- i te mea
- conjunction meaning "because", "since", or "seeing that"
- heoi
- conjunction meaning "however", "but", or "thereupon"; used to pivot the reason or flow of narrative
- heoi anō
- conjunction meaning "however", "furthermore", or "it's just that"
Hanganga Āhuatanga (condition and concession)
Structures used to introduce a hypothetical condition, a future possibility, or a concession.
- ki te
- used before a verb to mean "if" or "in order to"
- mēnā
- conjunction meaning "if"
- mehemea
- conjunction meaning "if" (often counterfactual)
- ahakoa
- conjunction meaning "although", "even though", or "despite"
- ina
- conjunction meaning "when", "whenever", or "if and when"
Hanganga Rerenga Piri (relative clauses)
Subordinate clauses or markers that link actions together or clarify the relationship between clauses.
- ana
- particle used at the end of a subordinate clause to mean "when", "as soon as", or "upon" (e.g., ka tae atu ana...)
- ai
- habitual or relative particle used to link a subordinate clause to a main clause
Hanganga Rerenga Kōrero Tuku (reported and indirect speech)
Verbs of saying, thinking, or perceiving that introduce indirect statements or reported speech.
- kī
- to say or state
- kōrero
- to speak, talk, tell, or converse
- mea
- to say, indicate, or think
- whakamārama
- to explain or clarify
- whakaaro
- to think, consider, or plan
