Can: hiki

Level 2

Say hiki, then the person in the object form, then ke and the action.

How It Works

Hiki is built differently from English “can”. The person who is able to act is not the subject but is marked like an object: Hiki iaʻu is literally “it is possible for me”.

WhoFormExample
meiaʻuHiki iaʻu ke hele.
youiā ʻoeHiki iā ʻoe ke hele.
a nameiā KalaniHiki iā Kalani ke kuke.

The Reference Grammar says that the subject of hiki is ia (“it”), and that verbs in hiki sentences are preceded by ke rather than the usual e. It gives Hiki iā ʻoe ke hele for “You can go”.

For “cannot”, put ʻaʻole in front: ʻAʻole hiki iaʻu ke hele i kēia lā means “I cannot go today.”

Examples (5)

  1. Hiki iā Kalani ke kuke i ka ʻuala.

    Kalani can cook the sweet potatoes.

    Kalani follows iā, and ke introduces the verb.

  2. Hiki iā mākou ke hālāwai i ka Pōʻakolu.

    We can meet on Wednesday.

    Mākou is the group who are able.

  3. Hiki anei iā ʻoe ke heluhelu i kēia leka?

    Can you read this letter?

    Anei turns it into a yes-or-no question.

  4. ʻAʻole hiki iaʻu ke hele i kēia lā.

    I cannot go today.

    ʻAʻole comes before hiki.

  5. Hiki iā ia ke noho ma kēia lumi.

    She can stay in this room.

    Iā ia is the object form of ia.

Common Mistakes

  • Treating the person as the subject of hiki.

    Hiki au e hele.
    Hiki iaʻu ke hele.

    The person who can goes after hiki in the object form, and ke comes before the verb.

How It Connects

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

Can: hikiLevel 2

Learn This First

Hiki says what someone can do, and the person is shown with iaʻu, iā ʻoe or iā ia.

Words in This Pattern

hikiiiā