tonu

Continuing or Still

Level 3

For continued activity, put tonu after the verb and before ana when present.

How It Works

For continued activity, use verb + tonu. In an ongoing phrase, form e + verb + tonu + ana. The surrounding tense and aspect construction establishes timing; tonu does not itself mean present tense. It has no person or number agreement.

Compare Kei te pānui au i te pukapuka, “I am reading the book,” with Kei te pānui tonu au i te pukapuka, “I am still reading the book.” The second presents the activity as continuing. In an instruction, tonu can encourage persistence: Me mahi tonu, “Keep working.”

Continuation differs from repetition: tonu can describe an activity carrying on, whereas anō can introduce another performance. Other combinations have their own meanings; read the complete phrase in context.

Examples (3)

  1. Kei te pānui tonu au i te pukapuka.

    I am still reading the book.

    Tonu marks continued reading.

  2. E tatari tonu ana ngā manuhiri.

    The visitors are still waiting.

    Tonu precedes ana in the ongoing predicate.

  3. Kia kaha tonu te ako.

    Keep studying hard.

    Tonu encourages persistence in the desired activity.

How It Connects

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

tonuLevel 3Continuing or Still

Learn This First

Add tonu to a familiar activity to present it as continuing, and to an encouragement to support persistence. Its surrounding predicate supplies time; continuation does not itself measure a long duration.