kaua e
Telling Someone Not to
Kaua e oma ki te huarahi! — Do not run onto the road!
How It Works
Use kaua e + verb phrase, without inserting an ordinary tense particle before the verb. The addressee is often understood. To express the addressee, use the witnessed order kaua + addressee + e + verb, as in Kaua koutou e kōrero! — Do not talk, all of you! The verb does not change for addressee number.
Compare E oma! — Run! — with Kaua e oma! — Do not run! Longer verbs also take this negative frame: Kaua e whakarongo ki te reo irirangi! — Do not listen to the radio! Complements retain their normal marking.
Contrast Kāore koe i te oma. — You are not running — which describes a situation. The supplied modern reference also recognizes kauaka e as an established alternative prohibition.
Examples (4)
- Kaua e oma ki te huarahi!
Do not run onto the road!
Ki introduces the destination of the prohibited movement.
- Kaua e kai i ēnā hua!
Do not eat those fruits!
The object retains i marking.
- Kaua e whakatuwhera i te pouaka!
Do not open the box!
Kaua e also precedes longer verbs.
- Kaua koutou e kōrero!
Do not talk, all of you!
Koutou explicitly addresses a group before e.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Introduce kaua e as an instruction to avoid an action, including longer verbs. An explicit addressee can stand between kaua and e; this directs behavior rather than reporting a negative situation.
Related Patterns
Practice kaua e in Bubblegum
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