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Function (in this sense): ai is a post-verbal particle used to signal that the event described by the verb is customary, habitual, or regularly occurring—something that happens as a normal pattern (“usually”, “regularly”, “always”). (Kupu)
A very common pattern is:
(Time expression), V + ai + Subject (+ other complements)
Notably, in many habitual sentences the verb appears without a tense/aspect marker (so you do not typically see kei te / i te / e … ana / kua / i etc. right before the verb), and the habitual meaning is carried by ai placed immediately after the verb. (Kupu)
Depending on context, V + ai is often best translated as:
“(subject) usually V …”
“(subject) regularly V …”
“(subject) always V … (as a habit)”
This reading is often strengthened by time adverbials like i ngā ata “in the mornings”, i ngā Rāhoroi “on Saturdays”, ia rā “every day”, etc. (Māori Dictionary)
ai is polyfunctional in Māori (it is used in several constructions besides habitual action), so the habitual sense is specifically the one where ai marks customary/regular occurrence of the verb phrase. (Kupu)
Waiata ai ngā manu i ngā ata.
The birds usually sing in the mornings. (Kupu)
Kai ai te ngeru i ngā kiore.
The cat always eats mice. (Kupu)
I ngā ata, haere ai ngā kaimahi ki te ngahere.
In the mornings, the workers always go to the bush. (Māori Dictionary)
I ngā raumati, kaukau ai au i te moana.
In the summer, I regularly swim in the sea. (Māori Dictionary)
Titiro ai au ki te ua.
I always watch the rain. (Māori Dictionary)
Oho ai au i te waru karaka i te ata.
I usually wake up at eight o’clock in the morning. (Māori Dictionary)
Ia rā, ia rā, oho ai au ki te horoi i ngā kākahu.
Every day, I always get up to wash the clothes. (Māori Dictionary)
Haere ai au ki te marae ki te āwhina.
I regularly go to the marae to help. (New Zealand Curriculum)
Ko tēnei te marae e tū ai ngā hui kapa haka.
This is the marae where kapa haka competitions/events are held (as a regular practice). (New Zealand Curriculum)
Kai ai au.
I always eat. (Māori Grammar)
Noho ai rātou ki Waiwera ia tau, ia tau.
They always stay at Waiwera each year.Kai ai ngā manu i ngā kākano o tēnei rākau hua.
The birds usually eat the seeds of this fruit treeIa rā, ia rā, tunu ai au i te hapa.
Every day, (each day) I always cook dinner.Haere ai a Hera ki te marae ia rā, ia rā.
Hera always goes to the marae each and every day.Noho ai ngā wāhine ki konei.
The always women sit here.Āe. Hīkoi ai au ia rā, ia rā.
Yes, I always walk each and every day.Tunu rēwena ai ia i ia Rātapu.
She always bakes bread every Sunday.I ia Rāhoroi haere ai a Hēmi ki te hoko tīkiti Rotarota.
Every Saturday Hēmi always goes to buy a Lotto ticket.Tirotiro ai ia i ngā pānui mō ngā matenga i ia rā, i ia rā.
She checks out the death notices religiously every day.Hīkoi ai a Aroha ki te kura.
Aroha always walks to school.Inu ai au i te waipiro ia rā ia rā.
I always drink alcohol every day.Karakia ai au ia ata, ia ata.
I always pray every morning.Kai ai au i te pāreti ia ata, ia ata.
I always eat porridge each and every morning.Ako ai au ia rā, ia rā.
Learn something habitually every day.Ia rā, ia rā, oho ai au ki te horoi i ngā kākahu.
Every day, I always get up to wash the clothes.Mau mōhiti ai ia.
He always wears glasses.Oho ai au i te wari karaka i te ata.
I usually wake up at eight o'clock in the morning.Waiata ai ngā manu i ngā ata.
The birds usually sing in the mornings.Maranga mai ai au ia rā, ia rā i te whitu karaka.
I always get up every day at seven o'clock.Hokihoki ai ia ki te wā kāinga.
He returned home regularly.I ngā Rāpare, mātakitaki ai au i Coronation Street.
On Thursdays I always watch Coronation Street.Haere ai mātou ki Rotorua i ngā hararei.
We regularly go to Rotorua in the holidays.Hīkoi ai au ia rā, ia rā.
I always walk each and every day.I ngā ata, haere ai ngā kaimahi ki te ngahere.
In the mornings, the workers always go to the bush.Tunu kai ai ahai i a pō, i a pō.
I always cook food every night.Inu ai au i te kawhe ia ata, ia ata.
I always drink coffee every morning.Titiro ai au ki te ua.
I always watch the rain.Inu ai au i te waipiro ia wiki ia wiki.
I always drink alcohol every week.Kai ai te ngeru i ngā kiore.
The cat always eats mice.Mai i tōku tamarikitanga pīrangi ai au ki te mahi hei nēhi.
Since childhood I have always wanted to work as a nurse.Tuhituhi reta ai ia.
He regularly writes letters.Mai i tōku tamarikitanga pīrangi ai ahau ki te mahi nēhi.
Since childhood I have always wanted to be a nurse.Haere ai au ki Pōneke.
I am always going to Wellington.Pānui ai au i ia pō, i ia pō.
I always read each and every night.Oma ai a Kauri ki te mahi i ngā rā katoa.
Kauri always runs to work every day.Haere ai ia mā runga pahikara ki te mahi ia ata ia ata.
He always goes to work by bike every morning.Ia Rāapa ia Rāapa waea ai tāku tamāhine ki a au.
Every Wednesday my daughter always phones me.Tū ai ngā whakamātautau i te mutunga o te tau.
The exams always take place at the end of the year.Horoi ai au i aku niho i te ao, i te pō.
I habitually brush my teeth day and night.Ia rā, ia rā, tunu ai au i te hapa.
Every day I always cook dinner.Mau pāhau ai ia? Kāo!
Does he always have a beard? No!Mahi ai au, ia te rā, ia te rā, hāunga anō ko ngā Rātapu.
I work regularly, every day except on Sundays.I ngā raumati, kaukau ai au i te moana.
In the summer, I regularly swim in the sea.Mātakitaki pouaka whakaata ai au, ia pō.
I always watch television every night.Tae mai ai te pahi, i ia hāora, i ia hāora.
The bus regularly arrives every hour.