Causative verbs in Maori grammar indicate that someone or something is making or enabling something else to do something. They operate by adding a prefix to the beginning of a root verb, changing its meaning to specify the causing of an action. Usually, whaka- is the prefix used to form causative verbs. Enhancing your knowledge of these verbs is important for developing your language skills in Maori since they have a prevalent use.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks with Appropriate Causative Verbs
1. E *whakaako* au i te reo Maori ki a koe. (teach)
2. He *whakapau* kaha ia ki te ako. (devote)
3. I a koe i *whakatangata* te whare, te wa i whiwhi ratonga atu ai koe i te whare. (humanize)
4. Hei *whakakite* i te ara tika. (reveal)
5. I a ia i *whakakore* e whai whakaaro i nga whakaaro whakaaro. (reject)
6. E *whakapai* ana ahau i taku whare mo te hui. (prepare)
7. E *whakatupu* ana koe i te pātiki ki runga i te mara. (grow)
8. Ka *whakaoti* ahau i te tāima. (finish)
9. E *whakaputa* ana ia i te karakia. (perform)
10. Ka *whakamahi* matou i te reo Maori i roto i o matou hui. (use)
11. E *whakawhiti* ana ahau i te rori. (cross)
12. Ka *whakahoki* ia i te pukapuka ki te whare pukapuka. (return)
13. E *whakakore* ana ahau e haere ki te wharekai. (refuse)
14. E *whakatu* ana koe i te whare titiro whetu. (build)
15. E *whakarite* ana ahau i te whakahaere mo te hui a te mea nei. (arrange)
2. He *whakapau* kaha ia ki te ako. (devote)
3. I a koe i *whakatangata* te whare, te wa i whiwhi ratonga atu ai koe i te whare. (humanize)
4. Hei *whakakite* i te ara tika. (reveal)
5. I a ia i *whakakore* e whai whakaaro i nga whakaaro whakaaro. (reject)
6. E *whakapai* ana ahau i taku whare mo te hui. (prepare)
7. E *whakatupu* ana koe i te pātiki ki runga i te mara. (grow)
8. Ka *whakaoti* ahau i te tāima. (finish)
9. E *whakaputa* ana ia i te karakia. (perform)
10. Ka *whakamahi* matou i te reo Maori i roto i o matou hui. (use)
11. E *whakawhiti* ana ahau i te rori. (cross)
12. Ka *whakahoki* ia i te pukapuka ki te whare pukapuka. (return)
13. E *whakakore* ana ahau e haere ki te wharekai. (refuse)
14. E *whakatu* ana koe i te whare titiro whetu. (build)
15. E *whakarite* ana ahau i te whakahaere mo te hui a te mea nei. (arrange)
Exercise 2: Complete Sentences by Filling the Blanks with Suitable Causative Verbs
1. I *whakaatu* ia i tana whare ki a tatou. (show)
2. He *whakatuwhera* i te whare whakarauora i te po. (open)
3. Ka *whakarereke* ahau i te kaupapa o te whakaaturanga. (change)
4. E *whakararuraru* ana koe i nga kaupapa. (confuse)
5. E *whakamarie* ana au i taku tinana ki te takaro ki te papa takaro. (rest)
6. Ka *whakahou* matou i te whakahaere o te wharekai. (renew)
7. E *whakarongo* ana ahau ki te whakapuaki i te reo irirangi. (listen)
8. E *whakapau* ana ia i ana whakaaro ki te whakaputa i nga kiriata. (devote)
9. Ka *whakatika* ahau i te umanga meneti. (correct)
10. E *whakawhiwhi* ana koe i te moni ki a ratou. (give)
11. Ka *whakapau* koe i te wa i runga i te kohikohinga peita. (spend)
12. E *whakapiri* ana au i nga whakaritenga ki te utu mo te whanau. (add)
13. Ka *whakahoki* au i te ringa ki te whare. (put back)
14. E *whakamutu* ana koe i te whakataetae. (stop)
15. E *whakanui* ana ahau i te ra whanau o taku hoa. (celebrate)
2. He *whakatuwhera* i te whare whakarauora i te po. (open)
3. Ka *whakarereke* ahau i te kaupapa o te whakaaturanga. (change)
4. E *whakararuraru* ana koe i nga kaupapa. (confuse)
5. E *whakamarie* ana au i taku tinana ki te takaro ki te papa takaro. (rest)
6. Ka *whakahou* matou i te whakahaere o te wharekai. (renew)
7. E *whakarongo* ana ahau ki te whakapuaki i te reo irirangi. (listen)
8. E *whakapau* ana ia i ana whakaaro ki te whakaputa i nga kiriata. (devote)
9. Ka *whakatika* ahau i te umanga meneti. (correct)
10. E *whakawhiwhi* ana koe i te moni ki a ratou. (give)
11. Ka *whakapau* koe i te wa i runga i te kohikohinga peita. (spend)
12. E *whakapiri* ana au i nga whakaritenga ki te utu mo te whanau. (add)
13. Ka *whakahoki* au i te ringa ki te whare. (put back)
14. E *whakamutu* ana koe i te whakataetae. (stop)
15. E *whakanui* ana ahau i te ra whanau o taku hoa. (celebrate)
