Above and Below: ma luna o, ma lalo o

Level 3

Place words such as luna, lalo, loko and waho say where something is.

How It Works

Phrase	Meaning
ma luna o ke pākaukau	on top of the table
ma lalo o ke pākaukau	under the table
ma loko o ka ʻeke	inside the bag
ma waho o ka hale	outside the house

The Reference Grammar shows the pattern as a preposition, a place word, o and a noun, in i loko o ke kaʻa “in the car” and i waho o ka hale “outside the house”. With a verb of motion, i is the usual choice. With other verbs, i and ma both appear and often mean about the same, though i is more exact.

Examples (4)

Aia ka puke ma luna o ke pākaukau.
The book is on the table.
Ma luna o means on top of.
Ke moe nei ka ʻīlio ma lalo o ke pākaukau.
The dog is lying under the table.
Ma lalo o means under.
Aia ka lole ma loko o ka ʻeke.
The clothes are in the bag.
Ma loko o means inside.
Ke pāʻani nei nā keiki ma waho o ka hale.
The children are playing outside the house.
Ma waho o means outside.

Common Mistakes

The word o is missing before the thing.
Aia ka puke ma luna ke pākaukau.
Aia ka puke ma luna o ke pākaukau.
When a noun follows the place word, o joins them.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Above and Below: ma luna o, ma lalo oLevel 3

Learn This First

These phrases say above and below and begin with ma.

ma, i and mai With Places
Know ma and i for places, because these phrases start with ma.
Level 2

Words in This Pattern

lunalalolokomao

Practice Above and Below: ma luna o, ma lalo o in Bubblegum

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