If Not: ke ʻole

Level 5

Ke ʻole starts a clause that means if not or when not.

How It Works

The frame is ke ʻole e + verb + the doer.

  • Ke ʻole e hele mai ʻoe, if you do not come
  • Ke ʻole e pau ka hana, if the work is not finished

The reference grammar lists ke ʻole e in a table of conditional forms, glossed “if not, when not”, and gives no full sentence, so treat it as a set frame. The result clause follows. Write the ʻokina in ʻole: it is part of the word.

The e after ke ʻole comes before the verb that follows. The result clause comes after the comma.

Examples (4)

  1. Ke ʻole e hele mai ʻoe, e kāhea mai.

    If you do not come, call me.

    Ke ʻole e + verb is the if-not part.

  2. Ke ʻole e pau ka hana, ʻaʻole hiki iaʻu ke hoʻi.

    If the work is not finished, I cannot go home.

    A longer sentence with the same pattern.

  3. Ke ʻole e ʻai ke keiki, e pōloli ana ʻo ia.

    If the child does not eat, he will be hungry.

    The result looks ahead.

  4. Ke ʻole e ʻike ʻoe iā ia, e haʻi mai.

    If you do not see him, tell me.

    The verb ʻike can follow ke ʻole e.

How It Connects

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

If Not: ke ʻoleLevel 5

Learn This First

Ke ʻole means “if not” and finishes the if clause.

Words in This Pattern

ʻolee