Abstract

Previous analyses of the syntax of subordinate clauses in Maori have taken the view that the selection of kia verses ki te is a function of the stativity or not of the verb of the embedded clause (Hohepa 1969) and of the volitionality/agentivity of the embedded subject (Reedy 1979, Hooper 1982, 1984). Whilst we accept these interpretations as descriptively accurate, our purpose in the present paper is to show how the observed syntactic effects can be accounted for through the use of structures which distinguish between unaccusative and non-unaccusative predicates.

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