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!
Titiro ake ki te rangi.
Look up to the sky.E titiro ake ana au.
I was looking up.I piki ake tō mātou ki te tihi o Taranaki maunga.
Our group climbed to the summit of Mount Taranaki.Kei te piki ake a Te Naera ki runga
Te Naera is climbing up on top.Kei piki ake te utu.
The price has gone up.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.Ka hiki ake ko te kohu.
The mist raises up.I tētahi taha ake o taua pā tētahi ngāherehere.
On the far side of the fort there was a patch of bush.Kia kaha ake tō reo!
Speak louder!Kia ngāwari ake tō reo!
Speak quieter!Kia hoihoi ake tō reo.
Speak louder.Ka titiro ake a Rona ki te marama.
Rona looked up at the moon.