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#136: The children are allowed to watch TV →

#135: I am able to look after your children (but I'm not going to)

Ka taea e... te..., kāore... taea...
Not allowed — kāore... e āhei
The Māori phrase "ka taea e..." expresses ability (can/able) in present or future tense. Past tense uses "i" instead of "ka". Negation requires "kāore e" (present) or "kāore i" (past). An alternative word order exists (agent, object, verb). Importantly, it asks about capability, not intent to act.

Video

Vocabulary

ā • āe • ahau • āhua • ake • ake, ake, ake • āku • āna • ātaahua • atu • au • āwangawanga • e hoa mā • e tū • ehara ehara • engari • haere mā raro • haunga • hiahia • hiainu • hiakai • hiamoe • hīkoi • hoa • hōhā • hōiho • hou • i • ia • iho • iti • ka • kaha • kāore • katoa • kau • keke • kēkē • ki • kia • Kia kaha! • kia ora • kino • ko wai • koe • koro • kōrua • koutou • kōwhai • kua •  • mai • māua • māuiui • ngenge • noho • nui • ō • oma • ora • pai • pango • pēhea? •  • rātau • rāua • rūma moe • taku • tama • tamaiti • tamariki • tana • tātou • tāua • tere • tino •  • wāhine • waiata • whaea • whero
← #134: I am unable to drive the car
All Lessons
#136: The children are allowed to watch TV →