Māori Grammar

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Te Reo Māori Level 3
Negations of 'me' - We shouldn't... - Kaua... (passive) e...

The word me, at the start of a sentence, means that someone should do something:

Me haere au.
I should go.

Me waiata ia.
She should sing.

To negate this kind of sentence, and say that I shouldn't go, or that she shouldn't sing, we begin the sentence with kaua e. If the verb is transitive then we add a passive ending to the word.

Me tahu te ahi.
We should light the fire.

Kaua e tahuna te ahi.
We shouldn’t light the fire.

Kaua te ahi e tahuna.
We shouldn’t light the fire.

Kaua te kaiako e pānuitia te reta.
The teacher shouldn't read the letter.

Kaua tātou e pakipaki.
We shouldn't clap.

Kaua e ngāwari tō reo.
Don't speak gently.

Kaua e hangaia te whare hou.
The new house shouldn't be built.

Kaua e kīa te pātaka i ngā kai.
The pantry shouldn't be filled with food.

Kaua e whakahokia ngā pukapuka ki te whare pukapuka.
The books shouldn't be returned to the library.

Kaua ngā kāroti e waruwaruhia.
You shouldn't peel the carrots.

Engari ka whakaarotia kia kaua e whakamatea mā te patu.
But it was decided that [he] would not be killed with a weapon.

Kaua tātou e noho ngū.
Let's not stay silent.

Kaua koe e pātai mai.
You shouldn't ask me.

Kaua e rahi te kīnaki.
Don't give me lots of sauce.

Kaua ngā tamariki e whakatā.
The kids shouldn't rest.

Kaua e whakatikahia te tēpu.
The table shouldn't be set.

Kaua e waiatahia he waiata ngahau.
You should not sing a joyful song.

Kaua e whakareri te whare mō ngā manuhiri.
The house shouldn't be prepared for the guests.

Kaua ngā tamariki e tikina i te kura.
The children shouldn't be picked up from school.

Kaua e tuhia he reta roa.
You shouldn't write a long letter.

Kaua ngā tauira e pātaitia ngā pātai.
The students shouldn't ask the questions.

Kaua e waihotia ngā taputapu ki te tēpu.
The tools shouldn't be left on the table.

Kaua a Ari e oma.
Ari shouldn't run.

Kaua e tahuna te ahi.
We shouldn't light the fire.

Kaua a Mere e waiata.
Mere shouldn't sing.

Kaua e hoatu ngā kī ki a Koro.
Do not give the keys to Grandfather.

Kaua e whakahokia ngā tūru kākāriki.
You shouldn't return the green chairs.

Kaua e tāria te waka.
The car shouldn't be waited for.

Kaua e horoia ngā rīhi.
The dishes shouldn't be washed.

Kaua koe e mau pōtae.
You shouldn't wear a hat.

Kia kaua e ngāwari tō reo.
Don't speak gently.

Kaua a Rangi e ārahina te tira.
Rangi shouldn't lead the group.

Kaua e hoatu ngā kī ki a ia.
The keys shouldn't be given to him/her.

Kaua koutou e haere takirua.
You should not go in pairs.

Kaua e tunua te kai.
The food shouldn't be cooked.

Kaua ngā tamariki e mau i ngā pōtae.
The children shouldn't wear hats.

Kaua e tikina ngā pukapuka.
The books shouldn't be fetched.

Kaua koutou e kawe moni ki te kura.
You shouldn't take money to school.

Kaua tātou e pakipaki.
We shouldn't clap.

Kaua e utua te nama.
The debt shouldn't be paid.

Kaua te parāoa e tapahia.
You shouldn't slice the bread.

Kaua te umu e whakangia.
You shouldn't turn on the oven.