Ngā Tohutohu
You have previously learnt that ka can be used before verbs to indicate the future tense, although it can also be used for sentences indicating the past. When ka is used at the start of two clauses in a sentence it is often translated in English as ‘when’.
Hei tauira:
| Ka tae mai te manuhiri ki waho i te kēti, ka karanga atu te kuia. |
When the visitors arrived outside the gate, the elderly lady called. |
| Ka mutu te kura, ka tangi te pere. |
When school is finished, the bell will ring. |
| Ka mutu te karakia, ka kai rātou katoa. |
When the prayer finished, they all ate. |
Ka is frequently used in narrative where it merely shows a change of action. There may be a series of phrases or sentences beginning with ka.
Hei tauira:
| Ka tae mai te manuhiri, ka karangatia, ka whakaeke mai rātou ki runga i te marae ātea. |
When the visitors arrive, they are called, they will enter onto the marae ātea. |
| Ka haere ngā tamariki ki te kura, ka pau i a rātou ā rātou kai, ka tākaro rātou i te papa tākaro. |
The children go to school, they consume their food, and play in the play ground. |
For further explanations and examples see Te Kākano pp.129-130.
Whakapākehātia ēnei rerenga kōrero.
