Relative Clauses With i ... ai

Level 5

I ... ai in a relative clause names the place, time or reason of a finished action.

How It Works

The frame is: noun, i, verb, ai, doer.

NounClauseMeaning
ka halei noho ai authe house where I lived
ka lāi hele mai ai ʻo iathe day she came

The word ai stands for the place, time or reason, so you do not name it a second time. I shows the action is finished. For an action that is not finished, see e ... ai.

If the noun you describe is the doer, a different pattern is used, as in ka mea i. Use i ... ai when the noun is a place, a time or a reason.

Examples (4)

  1. ka hale i noho ai au

    the house where I lived

    Ai stands for the house.

  2. ka lā i hele mai ai ʻo ia

    the day she came

    The clause tells when.

  3. ke kula i hele ai ke keiki

    the school the child went to

    The place is the noun at the front.

  4. ka lumi i kuke ai ka makuahine

    the room where mother cooked

    The doer comes after ai.

How It Connects

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

Relative Clauses With i ... aiLevel 5

Learn This First

I ... ai makes a relative clause about a finished action.

Words in This Pattern

i