mā ... e

An Actor Responsible for a Future Event

Level 3

Use mā + actor + e + verb base; the affected participant can precede e.

How It Works

Form mā + actor + e + verb + affected participant. Alternatively, place the affected phrase before e. Use an unsuffixed verb and leave the affected participant without ordinary object-marking i.

Singular pronouns combine as māku, māu, māna; names and non-singular pronouns follow separately. There is no verb agreement for person or number.

The construction can express an offer, an arrangement, or allocated responsibility. Context determines whether “will,” “is to,” or “should” best conveys its force. Future reference is common, but general responsibility readings also occur.

Compare Ka horoi au i ngā kapu āpōpō, “I will wash the cups tomorrow,” with Māku e horoi ngā kapu, “I'll take responsibility for washing the cups.” Use this frame with suitable actions affecting a participant; do not extend it mechanically to every state or intransitive verb.

Examples (3)

  1. Māku e horoi ngā kapu.

    I'll take responsibility for washing the cups.

    Māku identifies the speaker as actor.

  2. Mā Rangi te reta e tuhi.

    Rangi is to write the letter.

    The affected participant precedes e.

  3. Mā kōrua e whakapai te rūma.

    You two are to tidy the room.

    The dual pronoun remains separate from mā.

How It Connects

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

mā ... eLevel 3An Actor Responsible for a Future Event

Learn This First

Move from identifying who performed an action to identifying who will or should take responsibility. Teach māku and separate named or non-singular actors, while allowing context to distinguish offers, arrangements and general responsibility.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.