Māori Grammar
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A person can say that they are able to do something using ka taea. This has a passive structure and so uses e to indication the person able to do the action. Literally, this means "able to be done by me".
The structure is either:
Ka taea e au te [OBJECT] te [VERB].
or:
Ka taea e au te [VERB] i te [OBJECT].
There are therefore two possible ways of saying the same thing:
Ka taea e au te kitā te whakatangi.
Ka taea e au te whakatangi i te kitā
I am able to play the guitar.
Literally: the guitar is able to be played by me.
Note that this structure is used to indicate that a person is physically able to do something and not that they actually will do it. For example, asking: "Are you able to walk to the shop?" is different from "Can you please walk to the shop?" A person might answer that, yes, they are able to do this, but they are unwilling and so won't actually do it.
It is also different from the word āhei which means that a person is allowed to do something. For example, a person might be able to drive a car (ka taea) but might not be allowed to (if they have lost their license). Similarly, a person might be allowed to drive a car but might not be able to (if they have broken their leg).
Ka taea e ia te motokā te taraiwa.
He is able to drive the car.
E āhei ana ia ki te taraiwa i te motokā.
He is allowed to drive the car.
Ka taea e ia te motokā te taraiwa, engari kāore ia e āhei ana ki te taraiwa i tēnei wā.
He is able to drive the car but is not allowed to drive it now.
E āhei ana ia ki te taraiwa i te motokā, engari kāore e taea e ia te taraiwa i tēnei wā.
He is allowed to drive the car but he is not able to drive it now.
Ka taea e te kiwi te rere?
Can the kiwi fly?Ka taea e koe au te āwhina mai?
Are you able to help me?I taea e Rāwiri te hāngī te tunu.
Rāwiri was able to cook the hāngī.Ka taea e koe te whakautu i taku pātai?
Can you answer my question?Ka taeae te rakuraku te whakatangi e Tama.
Tama can play the guitar.Ka taea e koe tērā maunga te piki?
Can you climb that mountain over there?Ka taea e au tēnā mahi.
I can do that job.Āe, ka taea e ia te motokā te taraiwa.
Yes, he can drive the car.Ka taea ngā tamariki te haere ki te kura.
The children are able to go to school.Ka taea mātou te hīkoi ki te tāone.
We (excluding you) are able to walk to town.Ka tareka e au te kōrero ki a koe?
Can I speak to you?Ka taea koe te tākaro i te kita?
Are you able to play the guitar?Ka taea ahau te tuhituhi i tēnei reta.
I am able to write this letter.Ka taea e Hina te whakatangi te piana.
Hina can play the piano.Ka taea e koe te tunu keke?
Can you bake cakes?Ka taea e koe ngā pukapuka te whakahoki ki te whare pukapuka.
You are able to return the books to the library.Ka taea ngā tāngata te haere mā runga pahi.
The people are able to travel by bus.Āe, ka taea e au te kōrero Māori.
Yes, I can speak Māori.Āe, ka taea e au te keke te tunu.
Yes, I am able to bake the cake.Ka taea e koe te kauhoe?
Can you swim?Ka taea koe te kai i ngā āporo?
Are you able to eat the apples?I taea e Manu te kai te tunu.
Manu was able to cook food.Kāo, kāore e taea e au te whakautu i tō pātai.
No, I can't answer your question.Ka taea e koe te whakaheke ngaru?
Can you surf?Me taea e koe!
You should be able to!Ka taea te kaiako te whakarongo ki ngā tauira.
The teacher is able to listen to the students.Ka taea e koe te kanikani?
Can you dance?Ka taea ekoe tōku waka te whakatika?
Are you able to fix my car?Ka taea rāua te haere ki te kura?
Are they (two) able to go to school?Ka taea e koe te haere ki te hui?
Are you able to come to the meeting?Kāore e taea e au te rakuraku te whakatangi, heoi, ka taea e au i te piana te whakatangi.
I can't play the guitar, however, I can play the piano.Ka taea e Rangi te pātai te whakautu.
Rangi is able to answer the question.Ka taea e koe te haramai ki te mārena?
Can you come to the wedding?Ka taea ahau te tākaro i te kita.
I am able to play the guitar.Kāre e taea a au te haere ki te mahi āpōpō.
I can't go to work tomorrow.Ka taea a Hemi te whakahaere i te hui.
Hemi is able to run the meeting.Ka taea e koe āku pukapuka te whakahoki ki te whare pukapuka?
Are you able to return my books to the library?Āe, ka taea e au tō waka tde whakatika.
Yes, I am able to fix your car.Ka taea rāua te mahi tahi.
They (two) are able to work together.Ka taea e ia te motokā te taraiwa?
Can he drive the car?Ka taea te kuri te oma i te papa tākaro.
The dog is able to run in the playground.Ka taea e koe te rakuraku te whakatangi?
Can you play guitar?Āe, ka taea e te kiwi te rere.
Yes, the kiwi can fly.Ka taea e Amaru te whakatangi rakuruku.
Amaru is able to play guitar.Kāore i taea e au te kanikani, engari ināianei, āe, ka taea te kanikani.
I couldn't dance, but now, yeah, I can dance.Āe, ka taea e au tērā maunga te piki.
Yes, I can climb that mountain.Ka taea e Hūhana mā ngā hoiho te tiki?
Can Hūhana and co fetch the horses?Kāore e taea e au te haramai ki te mārena.
It is not possible for me to come to the wedding.Ka taea e koe te horoi i te motokā?
Are you able to wash the car?Ka taea e koe te tuitui kakahu?
Can you sew clothing?Ka taea mātou te hīkoi ki te tāone?
Are we (excluding you) able to walk to the town?Ka taea e Hamiora ōna hū te here?
Can Hamiora tie his shoes?E mōhio ana ahau, e taea e ia te whakamārama i te whakatauki nei.
I know that she will be able to explain this saying.Ka taea ia te whakaako i ngā tamariki?
Is he/she able to teach the children?Ka taea e ngā tamariki ngā rīhi te horoi?
Are the children capable of washing the dishes?Ka taea e koe te keke te tunu0.
?Can you bake the cake?Me whakapā atu ki a Kauri ina ka taea.
Contact M1 if and when you can.Ka taea e koe te kai te tunu?
Are you able to cook dinner?Ka taea e koe ngā tamariki te tiki?
Can you pick up the kids?Ka taea e koe te whakatangitangi piana?
Can you play piano?Ka taea e koe te hari i a au ki te tāone?
Are you able to take me to town?Āe, ka taea e tōku kuia te waiata.
Yes, my grandmother can sing.Ka taea koe te mātakitaki i te kiriata.
You are able to watch the movie.Waea mai mēnā ka taea.
Give me a call if you can.