By Means Of: ma ke

Level 5

Ma plus an article can say how, or by what means.

How It Works

The same small word ma also means “at” or “in”. When the next word is a tool or a way, it means “by”.

  • ma ke kelepona by telephone
  • ma ke kaʻa by car
  • ma ka lima by hand

The article follows the same spelling rule as everywhere: ke before most words that start with k, e, a or o, and ka before most others.

When the phrase names a thing you use, learners can test it by asking “by what?” If the answer is a tool or a way, ma ke or ma ka fits.

Examples (4)

  1. Kāhea au iā ia ma ke kelepona.

    I call her by telephone.

    Ma ke names the tool.

  2. Hele ʻo ia i ka hale ma ke kaʻa.

    She goes to the house by car.

    The same phrase can follow the place.

  3. Kākau ʻo ia i ka leka ma ka lima.

    He writes the letter by hand.

    Lima begins with l, so ka is used.

  4. Aʻo nā haumāna ma ke kamepiula.

    The students learn by computer.

    Ma ke can also name a tool for learning.

How It Connects

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

By Means Of: ma keLevel 5

Learn This First

Ma ke means “by means of” and uses the article rule.

Words in This Pattern

makeka