Māori Grammar

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Te Reo Māori Level 1
Negative active commands - Don't! - Kaua e..., kāti...

A negative command ("Don't look! Don't go!") is expressing using kaua e...

Kaua e oma!
Don't run!

Kaua e patu!
Don't hit!

When giving commands ("run!" "sit") the e is only used when the verb is two syllables. If the verb has three or more syllables, the e is not used. Also, if the verb is followed by maiihoake or atu, the is not used:

E oma!
Run!

Oma atu!
Run away!

Whakarongo!
Listen!

However, when using negative commands, the e is always used, regardless of how long the verb is and whether or not maiihi, etc are used:

Kaua e oma atu!
Do not run away!

Kaua e whakarongo!
Do not listen!

Kaua e pātai atu ki tō hoa.
Don't ask your friend.

Kaua e whakamā. Karawhiua!
Don't be shy. Give it a go!

Kaua e māngere.
Don't be lazy.

Kaua e waiata!
Don't sing!

Kaua e haere atu!
Don't go away!

Kaua e tūreiti.
Don't be late.

Kaua e noho!
Don't sit!

Kaua e moe!
Don't sleep!

Kaua e tū!
Don't stand!

Kaua e waiho te raumamao.
Don't leave the remote.

Kaua e kōrero!
Don't speak!

Kaua e waiho ō hū ki konā.
Don't leave your shoes there.

Kaua e tatari i te kēti!
Don't wait at the gate!

Kaua e haere ki tērā piko o te awa.
Don't go to that bend in the river.

Kaua e homai te mea nā.
Don't pass me that thing.

Kaua e haere!
Don't go!

Kaua e riri.
Don't be angry.

Kaua e kino ki a ia.
Don't be bad to him.

Kaua e titiro atu!
Don't look over there!

Kaua e pukuriri - kia tau.
Don't be angry. Chill out.

Kaua e mate wheke me mate ururoa.
Don't die like a octopus - die like a shark.

Kaua e pōuri.
Don't be sad.

Kaua e ngau tuarā!
Don't talk abut someone behind their back!

Kaua e tangi.
Don't cry.

Kaua e mānukanuka.
Don't be anxious.

Kaua e haere atu i konei!
Do not leave here!

Kaua e hoatu te māripi ki a Hera.
=Don't give the knife to Hera.

Kaua e moe roa!
Don't sleep in!

Kaua e tukuna to taiapa.
Don't let go of the fence.

Kaua e homai ngā whakautu.
Don't give me the answers.

Kaua e tū!
Don't stand up!

Kaua e haere mai!
Don't come here!

Ei. Kaua e ngaungau.
Ouch. Don't bite.

Kaua e tangi, e te tau.
Don't cry my darling.

Kaua e patu i tō teina!
Don't hit your younger sibling.

Kaua e awangawanga!
Don't worry!

Kaua e noho!
Don't sit down!

Kaua e pēnā!
Don't be like that!

Kaua e āwangawanga.
Be strong.

Kaua e kōrero pēnā mō Amaru.
Don't talk like that about Amaru.

Kaua e wareware tā tātou hui ā tēnei Rātapu.
Don't forget our meeting this Sunday.

Kaua e maranga!
Don't get up!

Kaua e kohi i te pāua iti!
Don't gather small pāua.

Kaua e oma!
Don't run!

Kaua e oho!
Don't wake up!

Kaua e waiata ki ngā manuhiri.
Don’t sing to the guests.

Kaua e oma atu!
Don't run away!

Kaua e homai te pata.
Don't pass me the butter.

Kaua e kata ki a māua.
Don't laugh at us.

Kaua e whakatika i tōu rūma.
Don't tidy your room.

Kaua e haere.
Don't go!

Kaua e karo!
Don't dodge!

Kaua e oma ki a Aroha!
Do not run to Aroha!

Kaua e hōhā.
Don't be angry.

Kaua e riri mai ki a au.
Don't be angry with me.

Kaua e mātakitaki i te pouaka whakaata i te ao, i te pō!
Don't watch television day and night!

Ka whakaarotia, kia kaua e whakamatea mā te patu.
It was decided not to kill him with a club.

Kaua e oma!
Don't run!

Kaua e titiro mai!
Don't look here!

Kaua e tunua te ika.
Don't cook the fish.

Kaua e kai i te tohorā!
Don't eat whale!

Kaua kōrua e haere.
You two don't go.

Kaua e noho iho!
Don't sit down!

Kaua e tuhi ki runga i te tēpu.
Don't write on the table.

Kaua e pōhēhē he huarahi ngāwari noa iho te huarahi ki te mātauranga.
Don't kid yourself that the path to knowledge is an easy one.

Kaua e māngere, mahia atu!
Don't be lazy, give it heaps!

Kaua e titiro ake!
Don't look up!

Kaua e kōrero me tōu waha e kī ana!
Don't speak with your mouth full!

Kaua e kai!
Don't eat!

Āta noho. Kaua e oreore.
Sit still. Don't fidget.

Kaua e kai!
Don't eat!

Kaua e kuhu mai ki roto!
Don't come inside!

Kaua e waiho ngā rīhi mō āpōpō.
Don't leave the dishes until tomorrow.

Kaua e wareware ki te kopa moni e Mā.
Don't forget your wallet, Mā.

Kaua e whakarongo ki a ia!
Do not listen to him!

Kia āta kai. Kaua e hao.
Eat slowly. Don't be greedy.

Kaua e whakahīhī.
Don't be arrogant.

Kaua e noho ki runga tēpu.
Don't sit on tables.

Kaua e takahi tikanga.
Do not disregard customs.

Kaua e titiiro mai!
Do not look here!

Kaua e hoihoi!
Don't be noisy!

Kaua e whakarongo ki āna tohutohu.
Don't listen to her instructions.

Kaua e pātuhi i te wā o te akoranga.
Don't text during the lesson.

Kaua te ika e tunua.
Don't cook the fish.

Kaua e tū ki te kai.
Don't stand and eat.

Kaua e omaoma ki roto i te whare.
Don't run in the house.

Kaua e titiro ki te maunga!
Don't look at the mountain!

Kaua e kai pia ngaungau ki te kura.
Don't chew gum at school.

Kaua e tū i runga i tērā tūru!
Don't stand on that chair!

Kaua e mataku.
Don't be scared.

Kaua e inu!
Don't drink!

Kaua e haere!
Don't go!

Kaua e puta ki waho.
Don't go outside.

Kaua e whakatoi ki a ia.
Don't be cheeky to her.

Kaua e waiho ngā hīti.
Don't leave the sheets.

Kaua e rūkahu!
Don't talk rubbish!

Kaua e moe!
Don't sleep!

Kaua e āwangawanga.
Don't be anxious.

Kaua e tapahia te parāoa.
Don't slice the bread.

Kaua e kato i ēnā putiputi!
Don't pick those flowers.

Kaua e tunu i te kina!
Don't cook sea-eggs!