Māori Grammar

Simple sentences: present tense with a verb - kei te

The present tense is indicated by using the words kei te at the start of the sentence. This can be used with a verb (walking, singing, running, eating...) to say: "at the moment, I am walking", etc.

Kei te hikoi ahau.
At the moment, I am walking.

Kei te oma koe.
At the moment, you are running.

Kei te waiata ia.
At the moment, she is singing.

▶

That person is going

kei te with verbs

Kei te waiata a Jerome.
Jerome is singing.

Kei te mau mōhiti ia.
He is wearing glasses.

Kei te whakaaro au ki ōku tīpuna.
I am thinking of my ancestors.

Kei te waiata rāua.
Those two are singing.

Kei te moe ngā tamariki.
The children are sleeping.

Kei te haere ia ki te hokomaha hoko kai ai.
He's going to the supermarket to buy food.

Kei te hīkoi au ki te tāone.
I'm walking to town.

Kei te mahi ahau.
I'm working.

Kei te pupuhi te wūruhi.
The wolf is blowing.

Kei te hoki au ki te kāinga.
I'm returning home.

Kei te hiakai au, engari, kore kau he kai!
I am starving, but, there is absolutely no food!

Kei te tuhituhi au i te rārangi kai.
I'm writing the shopping list.

Kei te kai parakuihi te whānau.
The family is having breakfast.

Kei te tahitahi a Aroha i te whare.
Aroha is sweeping the house.

Kei te haere tāua ki taua hui.
The two of us are going to that hui.

Kei te tākaro a Pita i te papa tākaro.
Pita is playing at the playground.

Kei te kai rāua i ngā kūmara.
They are eating the kūmara.

Kei te hari au i ngā pūhera ki te waka.
I am carrying the purchases to the car

Kei te pānui au i te pukapuka.
I am reading the book.

Kei te marino tonu te moana.
The sea is still calm.

Kei te tino hiamoe koe.
You are very sleepy.

Kei te kite koe i ngā manu rā?
Can you see those birds?

Kei te kato pūhā au ā te Hātarei.
I am picking pūhā on Saturday.

Kei te hoki au ki te mahi.
I'm returning to work.

Kei te kōrero mātou i te whare.
We are talking in the house/about the house.

Kei te waiata a Ari.
Ari is singing.

Kei te mihi te koroua ki ngā manuhiri.
The elderly man is acknowledging the visitors.

Kei te mōhio koe.
You know.

Kei te haere au ki te papa hokohoko.
I'm going to the mall.

Kei te tango a Makere i ōna hū.
Maggie is removing her shoes.

Kei te hui a Rama rāua ko Pita ki te pātaka kōrero.
Rama and Pita are meeting in the library.

Kei te hiahia āwhina koe?
Do you need a hand?

Kei te katakata a Raureka.
Raureka is laughing.

Kei te tahitahi a Hera i te papa.
Hera is sweeping the floor.

Kei te horoi a Manu i te waka.
Manu is washing the car.

Kei te oma te tama ki korā
The boy is running over there.

Kei te kōrero ahau ki a koe.
I am talking to you.

Kei te whakamārama ia i ngā kōrero pakitara ki ngā tamariki.
She is explaining the stories to the children.

Kei te āhua makariri a Rangi.
Rangi is somewhat cold.

Kei te tahu ia i te ahi i te marae.
He is lighting the fire at the marae.

Kei te whakarongo koutou.
You are listening.

Kei te whātuitui kākahu ia.
He is folding clothes.

Kei te kai ngā pakeke i ngā kina me ngā pāua. Kei te pūhaehae mātou.
The elderly are eating kina and pāua. We are jealous.

Kei te whakapakari tinana rātou ki te papa tākaro.
They are exercising at the playground.

Kei te ako au i tētehi waiata.
I am learning a song.

Kei te mau a Pani i te ika.
Pani is carrying the fish.

Kei te ako au i ētehi waiata.
I am learning some songs.

Kei te ako au i te reo Māori.
I am learning the Māori language.

Kei te waiata te kapa haka.
The haka group is singing.

Kei te tika.
That's correct.

Kei te hē koe!
You are wrong!

Kei te tika tāu whakautu.
Your answer is correct.

Kei te moe te pēpi.
The baby is sleeping.

Kei te oma te tama ki konei.
The boy is running here.

Kei te oma rātou ki te kura.
They are running to school.

Kei te patu a Pita i te whāriki.
Pita is beating the carpet.

Kei te mahi ngā tāne ki konā.
The men are working there near you.

Kei te whakaaro au ki ōku mātoua tūpuna.
I am thinking about my ancestors.

Kei te whakapakari tinana rāua ki te whare hākinakina.
Those two are exercising at the gym.

Kei te kōrero au ki a ia.
I am speaking to her.

Kei te heke iho mai nei te ua.
The rain is coming down.

Kei te titiro a Honi.
Honi is looking.

Kei te karanga mai te kuia.
The elder is calling.

Kei te tangi te pēpi.
The baby is crying.

Kei te haere a Taika rāua ko Niko.
Taika and Niko are going.

Kei te mahi a Rangi i te whare.
Rangi is working at home.

Kei te kai ahau i te āporo.
I am eating an apple.

Kei te kite koe i ngā manu rā?
Can you see those birds?

Kei te haere ngā tamariki ki waho
The children are going outside.

Kei te horoi koe i ngā rīhi.
You are washing the dishes.

Kei te kai ahau.
I'm eating.

Kei te tuhituhi ia i te reta.
She is writing the letter.

Kei te oma koe.
You are running.

Kei te kōrero ia.
She's talking.

Kei te tuhituhi ia i te reta.
He is writing the letter.

Kei te tangi te kōtiro.
The girl is crying.

Kei te paki te rā.
It's fine today.

Kei te hīkoi a Aria ki te kura.
Aria is walking to school.

Kei te āhua māharahara koe.
You are somewhat anxious.

Kei te tunu koe i te tina?
Are you cooking dinner?

Kei te hoki ia ki te mahi i tēnei rā.
I am returning to work today.

Kei te hoki rāua ki te kāinga.
Those two are returning home.

Kei te pai rawa atu.
Really good.

Kei te mahi ngā tāne ki korā
The men are working over there.

Kei te titiro taua ngeru ki tāna kai.
That cat is looking at his meal.

Kei te kai a Hōne i te āporo.
Hōne is eating the apple.

Kei te oma rātou.
They are running.

Kei te kai rāua.
They're eating.