kia ... ai

Doing Something for a Purpose

Level 3

Main action + kia + predicate phrase + ai + any expressed subject.

How It Works

Introduce the desired action or state with kia, then place ai after the predicate phrase. Directionals and other verbal modifiers precede ai; an expressed subject follows it. The main action and its purpose can have different subjects. Neither particle changes for person or number.

Compare Kia oti te mahi, “May the work be finished”, with Me mahi tātou kia oti ai te mahi, “We should work so that the work gets finished”. The independent clause expresses a desired situation; the linked clause explains the action’s goal. Purpose can accompany an instruction or an account of an earlier action.

For prevention, use kia kore ai e …. A participant can remain understood when context identifies it. A passive predicate can describe a desired action received by a participant; its passive form must be learned individually.

Examples (3)

  1. Whakatuwheratia te tatau kia puta ai te ngeru.

    Open the door so that the cat can get out.

    The cat supplies the purpose clause’s expressed subject.

  2. I mau au i ōku mōhiti kia kite pai ai au i ngā kupu.

    I wore my glasses so that I could see the words clearly.

    Pai precedes ai; ōku marks the glasses as plural possessions.

  3. Hipokina te kai kia kore ai e maroke.

    Cover the food so that it does not dry out.

    The food remains understood in the negative purpose.

How It Connects

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

kia ... aiLevel 3Doing Something for a Purpose

Learn This First

Link an action with its intended result using kia and ai after the predicate phrase. Practice expressed purpose subjects and the preventive kia kore ai e pattern, treating the goal as desired rather than guaranteed.