In Māori grammar, expressing the positive vs. the negative is achieved through the use of different particles that work in tandem with the verb of the sentence. A positive sentence uses the particle ‘ka’, while a negative statement uses the particle ‘kāore’. For example, ‘Ka whakapau kaha ahau’ means ‘I will try hard’, but when you say ‘Kāore ahau e whakapau kaha’, it turns into ‘I will not try hard’.
Exercise 1: Positive Statements in Māori
1. *Ka* hoko ahau i te waka (Buy)
2. *Ka* whakakī ngā taraka (Fill)
3. *Ka* mahi te tamariki (Work)
4. Kātahi anō *ka* whiwhi rātou i te pounamu (Receive)
5. *Ka* hīkoi ahau ki te pāmu (Walk)
6. He roa te wā *ka* tatari mātou (Wait)
7. *Ka* whakaputa mātou i te whare (Exit)
8. *Ka* piakararī ahau ki te whakapā atu (Snobbish)
9. *Ka* kapi te marama (Cover)
10. Kātahi anō *ka* whiwhi rātou i te pounamu (Receive)
11. Kāti, *ka* whakakapi ahau (Finish)
12. *Ka* whakawhiti te rā (Cross)
13. *Ka* ngohe ngohengohe te oneone (Crumble)
14. Ka whawhai tonu ahau *mō* ā tātau tino rangatira (For)
15. *Ka* whawahi e hoa ma! (Break)
Exercise 2: Negative Statements in Māori
1. *Kāore* ahau e whakapau kaha (Not)
2. *Kāore* e taea te whakaore (Deny)
3. *Kāore* i whiwhi rātou i te pounamu (Receive)
4. *Kāore* ahau e tino mōhio (Know)
5. *Kāore* e whānau anō (Born)
6. *Kāore* ahau e whakapae (Accuse)
7. *Kāore* rātou i pakaru i te waka (Break)
8. *Kāore* e ea i te pō kotahi (Solve)
9. *Kāore* e whakaaetia te kai tupeka (Allow)
10. *Kāore* koe i te whakakī te taraka (Fill)
11. *Kāore* e whakaae ahau (Refuse)
12. *Kāore* e whakakore rātou (Deny)
13. *Kāore* ahau e haere ki te whakapae (Go)
14. *Kāore* e whakakapi (Finish)
15. *Kāore* rātou e tuku i te puhi pāmu (Let)
Talkpal is AI-powered language tutor. Learn 57+ languages 5x faster with revolutionary technology.
