Tense Markers

Question 1

I

Answer 1

Past; a single event; not used in expressive speech (unlike Ka)

I kai ahau 
I ate
I mate te mōkai
The pet died
Also used in negative statements when past time eg kāore a Rewi I oho Rewi did not wake

Question 2

Kua

Answer 2

Immediate past. Action has happened or has got underway. May still be going. Where in English you would use have or had.

Kua kai ahau. I have eaten.

Question 3

Kei te …

E [verb] ana [agent].

Answer 3

Action phrase for something that is happening now. The present.

Kei te kai ahau. I am eating.

Can also use E kai ana ahau.

Question 4

Ka

Answer 4

Indicates a new action begins or a change of action. Used when speaking of rapid succession of actions. Eg. Ka puta mai ngā tima! Ka timata te kemu. The team appear. The game starts.

Question 5

ā

Answer 5

Key word indicating future time. Eg āpōpō, next Tuesday ā tērā Rātu

Question 6

Kia

Answer 6

Particle used to indicate some action or state that has not happened yet. It concerns the future. Eg Kia tū Stand up (stronger than e tū) Tatari kia tae mai ā Tame. Wait UNTIL Tom has arrived.

Question 7

e

Answer 7

Used before verb to indicate in dramatic single present or future action eg E kite au i a Tama āpōpō I will see Tom tomorrow.
Also used in negative statements when context is present or future time. Eg Kāore a Rewi e oho Rewi does not/will not wake.

Question 8

e x2

Answer 8

Also used to indicate an order eg e tū (not used when 2 syllables eg whakarongo listen!)

Question 9

E with numbers

Answer 9

There are or there will be E ono ngā hēki there are/will be 6 eggs