kua + verb

A Result or Completed Change

Level 1

Kua presents a completed event or a resulting state.

How It Works

Kua tae mai a Mere presents Mere’s arrival as achieved. Kua oti te mahi presents the work as finished. The focus is the event’s completion or resulting situation.

The reference time can be established in a past story, so kua is not restricted to a present perfect translation. Keep it distinct from ordinary past i and from an activity currently in progress.

Examples (3)

Kua tae mai a Mere.
Mere has arrived.
Kua oti te mahi.
The work is finished.
Kua moe te pēpi.
The baby has fallen asleep.

How It Connects

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kua + verbLevel 1A Result or Completed Change

Learn This First

Use arrival, finished work and falling asleep to introduce achieved changes and their results. The reference point can belong to a past story, so the construction does not require one fixed English perfect tense.

i + verbAn Earlier Action
Ordinary past-event marking provides the lesson's comparison for understanding what kua adds: an achieved event or resulting situation relevant at the reference point.
Level 1

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

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