i + verb

An Earlier Action

Level 1

I before a verb commonly places an event in the past.

How It Works

I haere au presents my going as an earlier event. A time expression such as inanahi can say when it happened.

For a past activity viewed in progress, compare i te + verb. Do not add te automatically to every past predicate. Also distinguish predicate-initial i from an i phrase that introduces an object later in the clause.

Examples (3)

I haere au inanahi.
I went yesterday.
I pānui a Mere i te pukapuka.
Mere read the book.
I kai ngā tamariki.
The children ate.

How It Connects

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

i + verbLevel 1An Earlier Action

Learn This First

Introduce initial i as a way to present an earlier event. Keep the verb base unchanged and distinguish this opening from a later object phrase; the comparison with i te is a preview of a separate ongoing-past lesson.

kei te + verbAn Action Happening Now
The ongoing-action lesson establishes a particle-framed predicate with an unchanged verb base and a following subject, providing a concrete comparison for I haere au.
Level 1

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Practice i + verb in Bubblegum

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