Choosing a Viewpoint on an Action

Level 5

Compare I horoia te waka e Mere with Nā Mere i horoi te waka.

How It Works

A passive uses the verb's established passive form. Its affected participant is the subject; an expressed actor is introduced by e. Past actor emphasis begins with nā and the responsible actor, with i before the active verb. Prospective responsibility uses mā … e. The affected phrase lacks ordinary object-marking i.

I horoia te waka e Mere and Nā Mere i horoi te waka can describe the same washing. The first gives the vehicle subject status; the second identifies Mere's responsibility. Neither adds person agreement.

Subject status does not dictate conversational focus: modern teaching evidence includes passive actor questions. Lexical scope also differs. Central knowing and wanting predicates can have passives but generally do not enter actor emphasis. Ordinary intransitives do not fit this action pattern merely because they have actors.

Examples (3)

  1. I horoia te waka e Mere.

    The vehicle was washed by Mere.

    Horoia is passive; e introduces the actor.

  2. Nā Mere i horoi te waka.

    It was Mere who washed the vehicle.

    The active base follows i; the affected phrase is unmarked.

  3. Mā Hēmi e horoi te waka āpōpō.

    Hēmi will be the one to wash the vehicle tomorrow.

    Mā … e identifies prospective responsibility.

How It Connects

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

Choosing a Viewpoint on an ActionLevel 5

Learn This First

Compare constructions that can describe the same washing while organizing subject status and responsibility differently. Preserve lexical passive formation and actor-emphasis restrictions; neither subject status nor English stylistic preference determines conversational focus.