‘i’ and ‘ki’

1. ki – marks the object of experience verbs (except ‘rongo’ and ‘kite’)

Kei te pīrangi au ki tērā kai.
I want that food.

2. ki – marks a goal or direction of movement to or at someone or something

Kei te haere au ki Kirikiriroa.
I am going to Hamilton.

3. ki – marks tool or implement i.e. ‘with’

Mā Ezra te keke huritau e tapahi ki tēnei naihi.
Ezra will cut the birthday cake with this knife.

4. ki te – marks subsequent action i.e. secondary action

I haere ngā tama ki te toa ki te hoko i te miraka.
The boys went to the shop to buy the milk.

5. ki – marks a comparison of similarity, e.g. ‘same as’

He rite tonu ia ki tōna matua.
He is just like his dad.

6. i – marks a comparison of contrast or difference

He reka ake tāku aihikirīmi i tāu!
My ice-cream is yummier than yours!

7. i – marks the object

Kei te patu a Joy i te taramu.
Joy is hitting the drum.

8. i – marks the causer of a stative verb

Kua mahue rātou i te pahi.
They have been left behind by the bus.

9. i – marks point of origin i.e. from where, or from when

Kua hoki mai au i Ahitereiria.
I have come back from Australia.

10. ki – marks the person/thing that is waited for – note: we don’t use mō ‘for’ in this context.

Kei te tatari a Sage ki tāna aihikirīmi.
Sage is waiting for his ice-cream.