Māori Grammar

▶

That person is going

kei te with verbs

The present tense is indicated by using the words kei te at the start of the sentence. This can be used with a verb (walking, singing, running, eating...) to say: "at the moment, I am walking", etc.

Kei te hikoi ahau.
At the moment, I am walking.

Kei te oma koe.
At the moment, you are running.

Kei te waiata ia.
At the moment, she is singing.

Kei te haere a Honi rāua ko Pāora.
Honi and Pāora are going.

Kei te tangi te kōtiro.
The girl is crying.

Kei te hari au i ngā pūhera ki te waka.
I am carrying the purchases to the car

Kei te tākaro a Pita i te papa tākaro.
Pita is playing at the playground.

Kei te kōrero au ki a ia.
I am speaking to her.

Kei te whakaaro au ki ōku mātoua tūpuna.
I am thinking about my ancestors.

Kei te tuhituhi au i te rārangi kai.
I'm writing the shopping list.

Kei te mau a Pani i te ika.
Pani is carrying the fish.

Kei te kōrero mātou i te whare.
We are talking in the house/about the house.

Kei te hui a Rama rāua ko Pita ki te pātaka kōrero.
Rama and Pita are meeting in the library.

Kei te tahitahi a Tame i te papa.
Tame is sweeping the floor.

Kei te waiata a Pita.
Pita is singing.

Kei te tika.
That's correct.

Kei te tango a Makere i ōna hū.
Maggie is removing her shoes.

Kei te haere au ki te papa hokohoko.
I'm going to the mall.

Kei te mōhio koe.
You know.

Kei te heke iho mai nei te ua.
The rain is coming down.

Kei te horoi koe i ngā rīhi.
You are washing the dishes.

Kei te oma te tama ki konei.
The boy is running here.

Kei te tuhituhi ia i te reta.
He is writing the letter.

Kei te mahi ahau.
I'm working.

Kei te kai ngā pakeke i ngā kina me ngā pāua. Kei te pūhaehae mātou.
The elderly are eating kina and pāua. We are jealous.

Kei te hiakai au, engari, kore kau he kai!
I am starving, but, there is absolutely no food!

Kei te paki te rā.
It's fine today.

Kei te whakapakari tinana rāua ki te whare hākinakina.
Those two are exercising at the gym.

Kei te titiro a Hēmi.
Hēmi is looking.

Kei te kai parakuihi te whānau.
The family is having breakfast.

Kei te hoki ia ki te mahi i tēnei rā.
I am returning to work today.

Kei te hoki rāua ki te kāinga.
Those two are returning home.

Kei te waiata rāua.
Those two are singing.

Kei te whakaaro au ki ōku tīpuna.
I am thinking of my ancestors.

Kei te hoki au ki te kāinga.
I'm returning home.

Kei te whakamārama ia i ngā kōrero pakitara ki ngā tamariki.
She is explaining the stories to the children.

Kei te tangi te pēpi.
The baby is crying.

Kei te oma rātou ki te kura.
They are running to school.

Kei te āhua makariri a Rangi.
Rangi is somewhat cold.

Kei te tuhituhi ia i te reta.
She is writing the letter.

Kei te kato pūhā au ā te Hātarei.
I am picking pūhā on Saturday.

Kei te mihi te koroua ki ngā manuhiri.
The elderly man is acknowledging the visitors.

Kei te mahi ngā tāne ki konā.
The men are working there near you.

Kei te haere ia ki te hokomaha hoko kai ai.
He's going to the supermarket to buy food.

Kei te kai rāua i ngā kūmara.
They are eating the kūmara.

Kei te hē koe!
You are wrong!

Kei te whakapakari tinana rātou ki te papa tākaro.
They are exercising at the playground.

Kei te mahi a Rangi i te whare.
Rangi is working at home.

Kei te karanga mai te kuia.
The elder is calling.

Kei te tino hiamoe koe.
You are very sleepy.

Kei te tahu ia i te ahi i te marae.
He is lighting the fire at the marae.

Kei te kai ahau.
I'm eating.

Kei te moe te pēpi.
The baby is sleeping.

Kei te ako au i ētehi waiata.
I am learning some songs.

Kei te hoki au ki te mahi.
I'm returning to work.

Kei te waiata te kapa haka.
The haka group is singing.

Kei te oma rātou.
They are running.

Kei te mahi ngā tāne ki korā
The men are working over there.

Kei te ako au i te reo Māori.
I am learning the Māori language.

Kei te haere tāua ki taua hui.
The two of us are going to that hui.

Kei te whakarongo koutou.
You are listening.

Kei te kai ahau i te āporo.
I am eating an apple.

Kei te kōrero ahau ki a koe.
I am talking to you.

Kei te ako au i tētehi waiata.
I am learning a song.

Kei te waiata a Jerome.
Jerome is singing.

Kei te tunu koe i te tina?
Are you cooking dinner?

Kei te hīkoi a Taika ki te kura.
Taika is walking to school.

Kei te pai rawa atu.
Really good.

Kei te marino tonu te moana.
The sea is still calm.

Kei te hiahia āwhina koe?
Do you need a hand?

Kei te hīkoi au ki te tāone.
I'm walking to town.

Kei te horoi a Nikau i te waka.
Nikau is washing the car.

Kei te kite koe i ngā manu rā?
Can you see those birds?

Kei te moe ngā tamariki.
The children are sleeping.

Kei te whātuitui kākahu ia.
He is folding clothes.

Kei te pupuhi te wūruhi.
The wolf is blowing.

Kei te haere ngā tamariki ki waho
The children are going outside.

Kei te āhua māharahara koe.
You are somewhat anxious.

Kei te kai a Hōne i te āporo.
Hōne is eating the apple.

Kei te patu a Tawa i te whāriki.
Tawa is beating the carpet.

Kei te tika tāu whakautu.
Your answer is correct.

Kei te oma te tama ki korā
The boy is running over there.

Kei te mau mōhiti ia.
He is wearing glasses.

Kei te katakata a Raureka.
Raureka is laughing.

Kei te tahitahi a Ari i te whare.
Ari is sweeping the house.

Kei te kai rāua.
They're eating.