e ai ki

According to

Level 5

E ai ki + source, followed by the attributed statement.

How It Works

Use e ai ki before the source of a statement. In the personal-article pattern taught here, names and pronouns follow ki a. An ordinary noun phrase retains its determiner, as in ki taku kaiako. Regional omission of the personal article is attested and is not a spelling error. These examples use ordinary macron spelling, not pronunciation notation.

The following clause keeps its own grammar: me can introduce a recommendation, kua a result, and he a description. Compare He iti te utu, “The price is low,” with the third example, which attributes that assessment to the addressee.

The frame does not change for the source's number. It can report information without quoting exact words. Attribution identifies a source; context determines whether the speaker endorses or questions the claim.

Examples (3)

  1. E ai ki a Mere, kua katia te huarahi.

    According to Mere, the road has been closed.

    The result is attributed to Mere.

  2. E ai ki taku kaiako, me haere tātou ki te whare pukapuka.

    According to my teacher, we should go to the library.

    The source retains taku; the recommendation retains me.

  3. E ai ki a koe, he iti te utu.

    According to you, the price is low.

    The personal source follows ki a.

How It Connects

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

e ai kiLevel 5According to

Learn This First

Introduce attribution by naming the source before a proposition that retains its own grammar. Explain that attribution neither promises exact quotation nor establishes endorsement, and preserve attested regional variation in personal marking.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.