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Function (in this sense): ai is a post-verbal particle used to signal that the event described by the verb is customary, habitual, or regularly occurring—something that happens as a normal pattern (“usually”, “regularly”, “always”). (Kupu)
A very common pattern is:
(Time expression), V + ai + Subject (+ other complements)
Notably, in many habitual sentences the verb appears without a tense/aspect marker (so you do not typically see kei te / i te / e … ana / kua / i etc. right before the verb), and the habitual meaning is carried by ai placed immediately after the verb. (Kupu)
Depending on context, V + ai is often best translated as:
“(subject) usually V …”
“(subject) regularly V …”
“(subject) always V … (as a habit)”
This reading is often strengthened by time adverbials like i ngā ata “in the mornings”, i ngā Rāhoroi “on Saturdays”, ia rā “every day”, etc. (Māori Dictionary)
ai is polyfunctional in Māori (it is used in several constructions besides habitual action), so the habitual sense is specifically the one where ai marks customary/regular occurrence of the verb phrase. (Kupu)
Waiata ai ngā manu i ngā ata.
The birds usually sing in the mornings. (Kupu)
Kai ai te ngeru i ngā kiore.
The cat always eats mice. (Kupu)
I ngā ata, haere ai ngā kaimahi ki te ngahere.
In the mornings, the workers always go to the bush. (Māori Dictionary)
I ngā raumati, kaukau ai au i te moana.
In the summer, I regularly swim in the sea. (Māori Dictionary)
Titiro ai au ki te ua.
I always watch the rain. (Māori Dictionary)
Oho ai au i te waru karaka i te ata.
I usually wake up at eight o’clock in the morning. (Māori Dictionary)
Ia rā, ia rā, oho ai au ki te horoi i ngā kākahu.
Every day, I always get up to wash the clothes. (Māori Dictionary)
Haere ai au ki te marae ki te āwhina.
I regularly go to the marae to help. (New Zealand Curriculum)
Ko tēnei te marae e tū ai ngā hui kapa haka.
This is the marae where kapa haka competitions/events are held (as a regular practice). (New Zealand Curriculum)
Kai ai au.
I always eat. (Māori Grammar)
Horoi ai au i aku niho i te ao, i te pō.
I habitually brush my teeth day and night.Ia rā, ia rā, tunu ai au i te hapa.
Every day I always cook dinner.Hīkoi ai a Niko ki te kura.
Niko always walks to school.I ngā Rāpare, mātakitaki ai au i Coronation Street.
On Thursdays I always watch Coronation Street.Ako ai au ia rā, ia rā.
Learn something habitually every day.Kai ai au i te pāreti ia ata, ia ata.
I always eat porridge each and every morning.Pānui ai au i ia pō, i ia pō.
I always read each and every night.Tirotiro ai ia i ngā pānui mō ngā matenga i ia rā, i ia rā.
She checks out the death notices religiously every day.Hokihoki ai ia ki te wā kāinga.
He returned home regularly.Tunu rēwena ai ia i ia Rātapu.
She always bakes bread every Sunday.Hīkoi ai au ia rā, ia rā.
I always walk each and every day.Tunu kai ai ahai i a pō, i a pō.
I always cook food every night.Tū ai ngā whakamātautau i te mutunga o te tau.
The exams always take place at the end of the year.Oma ai a Nikau ki te mahi i ngā rā katoa.
Nikau always runs to work every day.Haere ai au ki Pōneke.
I am always going to Wellington.Karakia ai au ia ata, ia ata.
I always pray every morning.I ia Rāhoroi haere ai a Hēmi ki te hoko tīkiti Rotarota.
Every Saturday Hēmi always goes to buy a Lotto ticket.Ia rā, ia rā, tunu ai au i te hapa.
Every day, (each day) I always cook dinner.Mau pāhau ai ia? Kāo!
Does he always have a beard? No!Waiata ai ngā manu i ngā ata.
The birds usually sing in the mornings.Inu ai au i te waipiro ia rā ia rā.
I always drink alcohol every day.Mau mōhiti ai ia.
He always wears glasses.Oho ai au i te wari karaka i te ata.
I usually wake up at eight o'clock in the morning.Maranga mai ai au ia rā, ia rā i te whitu karaka.
I always get up every day at seven o'clock.Titiro ai au ki te ua.
I always watch the rain.Kai ai te ngeru i ngā kiore.
The cat always eats mice.Āe. Hīkoi ai au ia rā, ia rā.
Yes, I always walk each and every day.Inu ai au i te waipiro ia wiki ia wiki.
I always drink alcohol every week.Ia Rāapa ia Rāapa waea ai tāku tamāhine ki a au.
Every Wednesday my daughter always phones me.Mai i tōku tamarikitanga pīrangi ai au ki te mahi hei nēhi.
Since childhood I have always wanted to work as a nurse.Noho ai rātou ki Waiwera ia tau, ia tau.
They always stay at Waiwera each year.Haere ai mātou ki Rotorua i ngā hararei.
We regularly go to Rotorua in the holidays.Mai i tōku tamarikitanga pīrangi ai ahau ki te mahi nēhi.
Since childhood I have always wanted to be a nurse.I ngā ata, haere ai ngā kaimahi ki te ngahere.
In the mornings, the workers always go to the bush.Inu ai au i te kawhe ia ata, ia ata.
I always drink coffee every morning.Kai ai ngā manu i ngā kākano o tēnei rākau hua.
The birds usually eat the seeds of this fruit treeIa rā, ia rā, oho ai au ki te horoi i ngā kākahu.
Every day, I always get up to wash the clothes.Haere ai ia mā runga pahikara ki te mahi ia ata ia ata.
He always goes to work by bike every morning.Haere ai a Koa ki te marae ia rā, ia rā.
Koa always goes to the marae each and every day.Noho ai ngā wāhine ki konei.
The always women sit here.Tuhituhi reta ai ia.
He regularly writes letters.Mātakitaki pouaka whakaata ai au, ia pō.
I always watch television every night.Tae mai ai te pahi, i ia hāora, i ia hāora.
The bus regularly arrives every hour.Mahi ai au, ia te rā, ia te rā, hāunga anō ko ngā Rātapu.
I work regularly, every day except on Sundays.I ngā raumati, kaukau ai au i te moana.
In the summer, I regularly swim in the sea.