Māori Grammar
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The expression kia... kei...is used to warn someone to do something in order to avoid negative consequences. It is seen most commonly in the expression kia tūpato kei...
Kia tūpato, kei māuiui koe.
Be careful, lest you get sick.
Kia tūpato kei whara tō tuarā.
Be careful, lest you injure your back.
The kia... kei structure is also used with āta (to be careful):
Kia āta kai, kei mate tō puku.
Eat slowly; you might get a sore stomach.
The word kia is used as a command with statives. Ordinary verbs can be turned into a command by adding a passive suffix (eg kainga! "eat!"). However, statives, like tūpato cannot take passive endings (there is no such word as tūpatohia). As a result, the word kia is used to make a command from a stative instead:
Kia kaha!
Be strong!
Literally: be in the state of being strong)
While the word kei is most often seen as a tense marker in kei te, it can also be used, without te as a warning or a command to avoid negative consequences:
Kei kōrero!
Don't talk! (For example, in a situation where talking might get you into trouble.)
Kei oma!
Don't run! (For example, at the swimming pool or when carrying hot drinks.)
When coupled with kia, kei warns of the negative consequences that you should try and avoid:
Kia tūpato, kei pakaru te tūru.
Be careful, or the chair will break.
Kia tūpato, kei wera koe.
Be careful you might get burnt.
Puritia ngā taha o te waka kei taka koe!
Hold on to the sides of the waka lest you fall!Kia āta horoi i te motokā, kia pāita ai.
Wash the car properly so that it's shiny.Kia tūpato, kei paruparu te whāriki.
Be careful, lest you get the mat dirty.Kia tūpato, kei taka te moenga.
Be careful, lest you fall asleep.Kia tere kei tūreiti tāua.
Hurry up so we're not late.Kia tūpato, kei pakia ōu whāriki.
Be careful, lest you hit the mattress.Kia pai koe, kei kohetengia koe.
Be good, or you will be told off.Kia tūpato, kei toromi koutou.
Be careful, lest you drown.Haere atu, kei tangi i a koe tamaiti nei!
Go away, lest you make the child cry.Kia tika te mahi, kei panaia koe.
Make sure your work is good or else you'll get fired!Ka nui te tote kei totetotetia te kai.
That's enough salt, or else it will be too salty.Puritia ngā taha o te waka kei taka koe!
Hold on to the sides of the waka lest you fall!Kia tūpato, kei pakia ōu taringa.
Be careful, lest you ears get hit.Whakatikaina tō rūma, kei riri tō māmā!
Clean your room or your mother will tell you off!Kia tūpato kei hinga ka whara.
Be careful, lest you fall and get hurt.Āta hīkoi atu kei kuhu ō waewae ki te paru.
Walk carefully so you don't step in the mud.Āta kawea te kapu, kei riringihia atu te wai.
Carry the cup carefully or the water might spill.Kia tūpato, kei taka tō aihikirimi.
Be careful, lest you lose your icecream.Āe. Āta huakina ngā kūaha, kei tūtuki ki te waka kei tō taha.
Yes, and open the door carefully, in case it bangs into the car alongside.Whakamaua tō pōtae, kei mate koe i te makariri.
Put on your hat lest you get sick from the cold.Kia āta haere, kia raru tō waka.
Go carefully, in case your car breaks down.Me hoki tātou ki te kāinga, kei hē au.
We should return home, lest I get into trouble.Katia ngā matapihi, kei mākū tātou i te marangai.
Close the windows, lest we get wet from the rainstorm.Kia tūpato kei ngaua koe e te kurī.
Careful in case you get bitten by the dog.Turituri! Kei kohetengia tātou e te kaiako.
Be quiet or else we might get told off by the teacher.Katia te wini, kei mate tātou i te makariri.
Shut the window, or we'll die of cold.Kia tūpato, kei mauheretia koe.
Be careful, lest you get arrested.Kaua e oma, kei tukia koe e te waka.
Don't run, or you might get bowled by a car.Turituri, kei riri te kaiako!
Be quiet or the teacher might get angry!Kia tūpato, kei riri tō mama.
Be careful, lest your mother gets angry,Kia tūpato, kei raro a Pēpi i te tēpu.
Be careful, Bubba is under the table.Kia tūpato kei taka koe ki raro.
Careful in case you fall down.Kia āta kōrero ki a Nikau, kei pukuriri ia.
Talk carefully to Nikau - he might get angry.Kia tūpato, kei hinga koe!
Be careful or you'll fall over!Kia tere, kei mahue koe i te pahi.
Be quick, or you will miss the bus.Kaua e haere ki waho, kei te ua.
Don't go outside, it's raining.Whakamaua tō koti kei mākū koe.
Put you coat on or you'll get wet.Kia āta kai, kei mate tō puku.
East slowly; you might get a sore stomach.Me tuhi koe i ngā kupu, kei wareware i a koe!
You should write the words down or you might forget them!Turitiru, kei oho ite pēpi.
Be quiet, or else you'll wake the baby.Kia tūpato kei tūreiti koe.
Careful in case you are late.Kia āta noho, kei pakari te tūru.
Sit down carefully in case the chair breaks.E kō, kia āta haere me te kapu tī, kei maringi.
Be careful, go slowly with the cup of tea, lest it spill.