Reading a Māori Phrase

Level 1

Use the opening particle to find the kind of phrase.

How It Works

In kei te whare, kei helps build a present location phrase. In kei te kai, the complete opening kei te introduces an activity happening now. The same short written word can have different jobs in different frames.

First find the complete predicate or noun phrase, then find who or what it concerns. English word order is a useful translation result, but it is not a reliable way to divide a Māori sentence.

Examples (3)

  1. Kei te whare au.

    I am at the house.

  2. Kei te kai au.

    I am eating.

  3. He kai tēnei.

    This is food.

How It Connects

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

Reading a Māori PhraseLevel 1

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.