Māori Grammar
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Ake is one of four directional particles: mai, atu, ake and iho.
The word ake has the meaning of "upwards" either literally ("he climbed up the mountain") or metaphorically, or as a comparative (pai ake = "better").
Kua tū ake te rangatira.
The chief has stood up.
Ake is used in some situations were the "upwards" meaning is not obvious:
kua oti noa ake ra
was completely finished
Ka ora ake a Rangi i tōna mate.
Rangi recovered from his illness.
Mahue ake i a rāua tō rāua matua.
Then and there they left their father.
When used after adjectives, ake can be used as a comparative:
Kua haere ia ki runga ake.
He has gone higher up.
Pai ake tēnei!
This is better.
Ake can also be used to indicate sequence in time:
i mua tata ake
shortly before
mea ake
presently
mea kau ake
immediately
taro ake
shortly afterwards
i mua ake
a short time before
taua rā ake
that very day
Ake can be used to mean ‘self’ or ‘own.’
ko ahau ake
I myself
Ake ake can also mean "forever":
Ka whawhai tonu mātou, Ake! Ake! Ake!
We will fight on forever and ever and ever!
Ka titiro ake a Rona ki te marama.
Rona looked up at the moon.I piki ake tō mātou ki te tihi o Taranaki maunga.
Our group climbed to the summit of Mount Taranaki.Kei piki ake te utu.
The price has gone up.Kia ngāwari ake tō reo!
Speak quieter!Ka hiki ake ko te kohu.
The mist raises up.Kia kaha ake tō reo!
Speak louder!Kia hoihoi ake tō reo.
Speak louder.E titiro ake ana au.
I was looking up.Kei te piki ake a Te Naera ki runga
Te Naera is climbing up on top.I tētahi taha ake o taua pā tētahi ngāherehere.
On the far side of the fort there was a patch of bush.Titiro ake ki te rangi.
Look up to the sky.Haere ake anō ko ngā tāngata o Ngāti-Kahukoa, me ā rātou rōpā anō.
The people of Ngāti-Kahukoka set off, with their slaves too.