In Maori grammar, the past tense is expressed in a few different ways. There typically isn’t a set rule for conjugating verbs into the past tense like in some languages. Instead, specific past tense words are often used or the context of the sentence can dictate the tense. For example, ‘I whakarongo’ can mean ‘I listened’ with the past tense being implied. ‘Kua’ is also commonly used to express actions that have been completed.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct Maori past tense phrases.
1. *I whakarongo* au ki a koe. (I listened)
2. *Kua hoki* ratou ki te kainga. (They returned)
3. *Kua whakapau* ia i tana moni. (He spent)
4. *Kua whakakore* mātou i te haere. (We refused)
5. *I whakaputa* koe i te pukapuka. (You published)
6. *Kua whakakore* ia i te haere. (She refused)
7. *Kua whakakore* ratou i te haere. (They refused)
8. *Kua whakararuraru* tatou i te kupu. (We confused)
9. *Kua whakakore* koutou i te haere. (You refused)
10. *Kua whakakore* ahau i te haere. (I refused)
11. *Kua whiwhi* koe i te kararehe. (You received)
12. *Kua whakapau* mātou i te moni. (We spent)
13. *Kua whakakore* koe i te haere. (You refused)
14. *Kua whakakore* ia i te haere ki te kura. (She refused)
15. *Kua whakakore* ratou i te haere ki te kura. (They refused)
2. *Kua hoki* ratou ki te kainga. (They returned)
3. *Kua whakapau* ia i tana moni. (He spent)
4. *Kua whakakore* mātou i te haere. (We refused)
5. *I whakaputa* koe i te pukapuka. (You published)
6. *Kua whakakore* ia i te haere. (She refused)
7. *Kua whakakore* ratou i te haere. (They refused)
8. *Kua whakararuraru* tatou i te kupu. (We confused)
9. *Kua whakakore* koutou i te haere. (You refused)
10. *Kua whakakore* ahau i te haere. (I refused)
11. *Kua whiwhi* koe i te kararehe. (You received)
12. *Kua whakapau* mātou i te moni. (We spent)
13. *Kua whakakore* koe i te haere. (You refused)
14. *Kua whakakore* ia i te haere ki te kura. (She refused)
15. *Kua whakakore* ratou i te haere ki te kura. (They refused)
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct Maori past tense phrases.
1. *Kua whakapau* koutou i te moni. (You spent)
2. *Kua whiwhi* koe i te tohu. (You received)
3. *Kua whiwhi* ia i te tohu. (She received)
4. *Kua whiwhi* ratou i te tohu. (They received)
5. *Kua whakaputa* koutou i te pukapuka. (You published)
6. *Kua hoki* tatou ki te kainga. (We returned)
7. *Kua whaikōrero* ia ki nga tamariki. (He spoke)
8. *Kua whiwhi* koe i te wheako. (You received)
9. *Kua whaikōrero* tatou ki te iwi. (We spoke)
10. *Kua hoki* au ki te kāinga. (I returned)
11. *Kua whakapau* koutou i te moni. (You spent)
12. *Kua whaikōrero* ratou ki te iwi. (They spoke)
13. *Kua whiwhi* koe i te wheako. (You received)
14. *Kua whakaputa* ahau i te pukapuka. (I published)
15. *Kua hoki* koe ki te kāinga. (You returned)
2. *Kua whiwhi* koe i te tohu. (You received)
3. *Kua whiwhi* ia i te tohu. (She received)
4. *Kua whiwhi* ratou i te tohu. (They received)
5. *Kua whakaputa* koutou i te pukapuka. (You published)
6. *Kua hoki* tatou ki te kainga. (We returned)
7. *Kua whaikōrero* ia ki nga tamariki. (He spoke)
8. *Kua whiwhi* koe i te wheako. (You received)
9. *Kua whaikōrero* tatou ki te iwi. (We spoke)
10. *Kua hoki* au ki te kāinga. (I returned)
11. *Kua whakapau* koutou i te moni. (You spent)
12. *Kua whaikōrero* ratou ki te iwi. (They spoke)
13. *Kua whiwhi* koe i te wheako. (You received)
14. *Kua whakaputa* ahau i te pukapuka. (I published)
15. *Kua hoki* koe ki te kāinga. (You returned)
