Māori Grammar

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Negative active commands - Don't!

Kaua e..., kāti...

A negative command ("Don't look! Don't go!") is expressing using kaua e...

Kaua e oma!
Don't run!

Kaua e patu!
Don't hit!

When giving commands ("run!" "sit") the e is only used when the verb is two syllables. If the verb has three or more syllables, the e is not used. Also, if the verb is followed by mai, iho, ake or atu, the e is not used:

E oma!
Run!

Oma atu!
Run away!

Whakarongo!
Listen!

However, when using negative commands, the e is always used, regardless of how long the verb is and whether or not mai, ihi, etc are used:

Kaua e oma atu!
Do not run away!

Kaua e whakarongo!
Do not listen!

Kaua e haere!
Don't go!

Kaua e awangawanga!
Don't worry!

Kaua e titiro ki te maunga!
Don't look at the mountain!

Kaua e titiro mai!
Don't look here!

Kaua e pēnā!
Don't be like that!

Kaua e pōhēhē he huarahi ngāwari noa iho te huarahi ki te mātauranga.
Don't kid yourself that the path to knowledge is an easy one.

Kāti te kōrero pēnā.
Stop talking like that.

Kaua e riri.
Don't be angry.

Kaua e tangi.
Don't cry.

Kaua e māngere, mahia atu!
Don't be lazy, give it heaps!

Kaua e kohi i te pāua iti!
Don't gather small pāua.

Kaua e kai i te tohorā!
Don't eat whale!

Kaua e noho ki runga tēpu.
Don't sit on tables.

Kaua e puta ki waho.
Don't go outside.

Kaua e whakarongo ki āna tohutohu.
Don't listen to her instructions.

Kaua e tunu i te kina!
Don't cook sea-eggs!

Kaua e whakahīhī.
Don't be arrogant.

Kaua kōrua e haere.
You two don't go.

Kaua e noho!
Don't sit down!

Ei. Kaua e ngaungau.
Ouch. Don't bite.

Kaua e haere atu i konei!
Do not leave here!

Kaua e waiho ngā rīhi mō āpōpō.
Don't leave the dishes until tomorrow.

Kaua e kino ki a ia.
Don't be bad to him.

Kaua e homai te mea nā.
Don't pass me that thing.

Kaua e kai!
Don't eat!

Kaua e haere!
Don't go!

Kaua e rūkahu!
Don't talk rubbish!

Kaua e tautohetohe.
Don't argue.

Kaua e tangi, e te tau.
Don't cry my darling.

Kaua e waiho ō hū ki konā.
Don't leave your shoes there.

Kaua e ngau tuarā!
Don't talk abut someone behind their back!

Kaua e homai te pata.
Don't pass me the butter.

Kaua e hoihoi!
Don't be noisy!

Kaua e haere.
Don't go!

Kaua e māngere.
Don't be lazy.

Kaua e waiata ki ngā manuhiri.
Don’t sing to the guests.

Kaua e kata ki a māua.
Don't laugh at us.

Kaua e homai ngā whakautu.
Don't give me the answers.

Kaua e tūreiti.
Don't be late.

Kaua e kai pia ngaungau ki te kura.
Don't chew gum at school.

Kaua e waiho ngā hīti.
Don't leave the sheets.

Kaua e oma!
Don't run!

Kaua e kōrero!
Don't speak!

Kaua e kōrero pēnā mō Kauri.
Don't talk like that about Kauri.

Kaua e kai!
Don't eat!

Kaua e titiro atu!
Don't look over there!

Kaua e titiiro mai!
Do not look here!

Kaua e noho iho!
Don't sit down!

Kaua e takahi tikanga.
Do not disregard customs.

Kaua e kato i ēnā putiputi!
Don't pick those flowers.

Kaua e tū ki te kai.
Don't stand and eat.

Kaua e tuhi ki runga i te tēpu.
Don't write on the table.

Kāti te whakaputa mōhio.
Stop being a know-it-all.

Kaua e mātakitaki i te pouaka whakaata i te ao, i te pō!
Don't watch television day and night!

Kāti te omaoma.
Stop running about.

Kaua e noho!
Don't sit!

Kaua e tiro tītahi pēnā mai.
Don't look sideways at me like that.

Kaua e whakarongo ki a ia!
Do not listen to him!

Kaua e oma atu!
Don't run away!

Kaua e hoatu te māripi ki a Rangi.
=Don't give the knife to Rangi.

Kaua e titiro ake!
Don't look up!

Kaua e whakamā. Karawhiua!
Don't be shy. Give it a go!

Kaua e moe roa!
Don't sleep in!

Kaua e pōuri.
Don't be sad.

Kaua e patu i tō teina!
Don't hit your younger sibling.

Kaua e karo!
Don't dodge!

Kaua e mānukanuka.
Don't be anxious.

Kaua e tunua te ika.
Don't cook the fish.

Kaua e inu!
Don't drink!

Kaua e pukuriri - kia tau.
Don't be angry. Chill out.

Kaua e tū!
Don't stand up!

Kaua e whakatoi ki a ia.
Don't be cheeky to her.

Kaua e āwangawanga.
Be strong.

Kaua e oma ki a Tame!
Do not run to Tame!

Kaua e mate wheke me mate ururoa.
Don't die like a octopus - die like a shark.

Kaua e riri mai ki a au.
Don't be angry with me.

Kaua e waiata!
Don't sing!

Kaua e maranga!
Don't get up!

Kaua e hōhā.
Don't be angry.

Kaua e waiho te raumamao.
Don't leave the remote.

Kaua e tatari i te kēti!
Don't wait at the gate!

Kaua e haere mai!
Don't come here!

Kaua e mataku.
Don't be scared.

Ka whakaarotia, kia kaua e whakamatea mā te patu.
It was decided not to kill him with a club.

Kaua e pātai atu ki tō hoa.
Don't ask your friend.

Kaua e moe!
Don't sleep!

Kaua e wareware ki te kopa moni e Mā.
Don't forget your wallet, Mā.

Kaua e tapahia te parāoa.
Don't slice the bread.

Kaua e kōrero me tōu waha e kī ana!
Don't speak with your mouth full!

Kaue e pukā.
Don't be anxious.

Kaua e oma!
Don't run!

Kaua te ika e tunua.
Don't cook the fish.

Kaua e moe!
Don't sleep!

Kaua e kuhu mai ki roto!
Don't come inside!

Kia āta kai. Kaua e hao.
Eat slowly. Don't be greedy.

Kaua e oho!
Don't wake up!

Kaua e omaoma ki roto i te whare.
Don't run in the house.

Kaua e tū i runga i tērā tūru!
Don't stand on that chair!

Kaua e whakaahua.
Don't take a photograph.

Kaua e pātuhi i te wā o te akoranga.
Don't text during the lesson.

Kaua e āwangawanga.
Don't be anxious.

Kaua e tū!
Don't stand!

Kaua e whakatika i tōu rūma.
Don't tidy your room.

Āta noho. Kaua e oreore.
Sit still. Don't fidget.

Kaua e haere ki tērā piko o te awa.
Don't go to that bend in the river.

Kaua e haere atu!
Don't go away!

Kaua e wareware tā tātou hui ā tēnei Rātapu.
Don't forget our meeting this Sunday.

Kaua e tukuna to taiapa.
Don't let go of the fence.