i + object

Marking an Object

Level 1

I marks many direct objects in active clauses.

How It Works

Kei te pānui au i te pukapuka names the book as the thing read. Here the i before te pukapuka is an object marker, even though the activity is present.

Some verbs take other complements, such as ki, so learn a verb with its frame. A personal object such as Mere uses i a Mere. Do not treat every i anywhere in a sentence as past tense.

Examples (3)

  1. Kei te pānui au i te pukapuka.

    I am reading the book.

  2. I kite au i te whare.

    I saw the house.

  3. Kua horoi a Mere i ngā rīhi.

    Mere has washed the dishes.

How It Connects

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

i + objectLevel 1Marking an Object

Learn This First

Introduce the later i phrase as the object of a suitable active verb. Its occurrence in a present activity shows that this i does not mark past time; learners also begin attending to each verb's complement frame.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.