This and That After a Noun

Level 4

After a noun, nei points to something near and lā or ala to something far.

How It Works

The markers follow the noun, or the whole phrase.

PhraseMeaning
ka hale neithis house here
ka hale lāthat house over there
ka hale alathat house, farther off

English Wikipedia shows the same three words with ua for something already mentioned: ua ... nei for near and ua ... lā or ua ... ala for far, as in ua wahine nei (this woman we just spoke of). This course teaches the plain near and far use first.

A small word that follows a noun is easy to miss when you read fast. Look at the end of each noun phrase for nei, lā or ala.

Examples (4)

  1. Nui ke kula nei.

    This school here is big.

    Nei shows that the school is close.

  2. Kiʻekiʻe ka mauna lā.

    That mountain over there is tall.

    Lā shows the mountain is far away.

  3. Nani ka pua nei.

    This flower here is pretty.

    Nei can follow a noun phrase.

  4. Ua ʻike au i ke keiki ala.

    I saw that child over there.

    Ala points to a person at a distance.

How It Connects

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

This and That After a NounLevel 4

Learn This First

Nei, ala and lā also follow a noun and show near and far.

Words in This Pattern

lā