also two additional particles/ morphemes which also contribute to negation in Rapa Nui: kore (Existential/noun negator) hia / ia (verb phrase particle which occurs in combination with different negators to form the meaning 'not yet') Negation occurs as preverbal particles in the verb phrase, with the clausal negator kai and (e)ko occurring in first position in the verbal phrase, while the constituent negator (tae) occurs in second position in the verbal phrase. Clausal negators occur in the same position as aspect markers and subordinators—this means it is impossible for these elements to co-occur. As a result, negative clauses tend to have fewer aspectual distinctions. Hia occurs in eighth position as a post-verbal marker. Verbal negators precede adjectives. The table below roughly depicts the positions of negators in the Verb Phrase: Position in the verb phrase Clausal negators Ina Ina is the neutral negator (regarding aspect). It has the widest range of use in a variety of contexts. It usually occurs in imperfective contexts, as well as habitual clauses and narrative contexts, and is used to negate actions and states. It almost always occurs clause initially and is always followed by the neutral aspectual he + noun or he + verb. In the example above ina is followed by the combination of he+ maeha (noun) In this example, ina is followed by he + takea (verb) In addition to negating verbal and nominal clauses, it also functions as the term ꞌnoꞌas shown below: Unlike the other two clausal negators (which are preverbal particles), ina is a phrase head, thus it can form a constituent of its own. Kai Kai negates clauses with perfective aspects. It is used to negate past events and narrative events, and is usually combined with ina. It is also used to negate stative verbs, and a verb phrase marked with kai may contain various post-verbal particles such as the continuity marker â / ana. This marker occurs when the clause has perfect aspect (often obligatory with the perfect marker ko). When combined with kai, it indicates that the negative state continues. (E)ko (E)ko is the imperfective negator, which (like kai) replaces the aspectual marker in front of the verb, and which can occur with the negator ina. It marks negative commands in imperatives (usually with ina) with the e often excluded in imperatives. In other contexts, especially when ina is absent, the e is obligatory. Constituent negator