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First Lessons in Maori

§ 57

§ 57.

The Causative Prefix, whaka-, may be used:—

i. With a verb, adjective or participle (§ 66), to form a verb signifying the attempt at, beginning of, or approach to the action or condition indicated by the root word.

Examples.
  • Na ka whakawhiti a Kupe i te moana o Raukawa, a, ka whiti. Then Kupe set about crossing the straits of Raukawa, and crossed over.

  • Po rua a Tukutuku e whakatata ana ki a Paoa, kihai i tata, For two nights Tukutuku was trying to get near to Paoa, but did not succeed.

ii. With a noun to form an intransitive verb signifying the assumption of the character or form appropriate to the noun.

Examples.
  • Kua whakatangata taua kukupa, The pigeon had assumed the form of a man.

  • Ka mea a Wairaka, Kia whakatane ake ahau, Wairaka said I must play the part of a man.

iii. With a verb, adjective, participle (§ 66), or noun to form a causative verb, generally transitive. Thus, whakamahi, cause to work; but whakakite, cause to be seen.

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Examples.
  • Ka mea nga hoa kia whakarerea nga kahu, His companions told him to discard his clothes.

  • Kia nunui nga tao, kaua e whakaririkitia, Let the spears be large, don't make them small.

  • Whakamau te titiro ki te kapua rere mai, Fix your gaze on the cloud flying hither.

  • Hei konei au whakamau ai, I will remain established here.

  • Katahi ano a Rupe ka whakakukupa i a ia, Then Rupe made himself into a pigeon.

Of course these compounds with whaka- may, like other words, be used otherwise than as verbs.

Examples.
  • Ka puta whakarere mai te hau, The wind sprang up suddenly.

  • Ka nui rawa te whakama o Paoa, Paoa's shame was very great.