ake / iho

A Relative Degree

Level 3

Nui ake means “larger/more”; iti iho and iti ake can both mean “smaller/less.”

How It Works

Place ake or iho after a suitable descriptive base. Nui ake expresses greater size or amount. Both iti iho and iti ake can express smaller size or amount. Increasing the degree of smallness still makes something smaller. Learn these combinations rather than treating the particles as an automatic “more/less” switch. The base has no comparative agreement ending.

An i phrase can state the comparison standard; otherwise, context supplies another item or an earlier condition. Compare He nui te pouaka, “The box is large,” with He nui ake te pouaka, “The box is larger.” Relative size does not establish absolute largeness. With movement verbs, the same particles can have directional meanings; the predicate and context distinguish those uses.

Examples (3)

  1. He nui ake tēnei pouaka i tērā.

    This box is larger than that one.

    The i phrase states the standard.

  2. He iti iho te utu ināianei.

    The price is lower now.

    An earlier price supplies the understood standard.

  3. He iti ake tēnei kete i tērā kete.

    This basket is smaller than that basket.

    Iti ake expresses smaller size.

How It Connects

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

ake / ihoLevel 3A Relative Degree

Learn This First

Introduce relative degree with a stated or understood standard. Learn nui ake, iti iho and iti ake as combinations; the particles are not automatic opposites, and their directional uses receive separate treatment later.