kāore
1. (negative) no, not - a negative word used on its own or in a variety of sentence types. Kāore is the most common form but has dialectal variations which include kāhore, kāre, karekau and horekau. Its main uses are explained below where it is listed with each of the various particles it occurs before. As well as being marked by a negative word, negative sentences often differ from corresponding affirmative sentences by having a different word order and sometimes different particles.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 15, 56, 75-76, 83-84, 109-110; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 25;)
2. (negative) Used for the negative of affirmative sentences beginning with he followed by a noun and a possessive determiner on its own, e.g. tāku, ōna, tō māua, ā rātou, etc. Such sentences assert ownership. The possessive determiner is always in the plural in the negative.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 109-110;)
3. (interjection) so, how great - used to express surprise, admiration, distress, etc. this use is often found in mōteatea.
Kāore te mamae, ngau kino ki te hoa (M 2004:60). / How great is the pain that gnaws for my friend.
Kāore hoki taku whakatakariri ki aku mokopuna e kukume kino nei i au, ē (M 2004:386). / How great is my anger towards my grandchildren who have dragged me here.
