Possessives in Maori grammar are a critical aspect of the language, constructing relationships between nouns. They are used to indicate ownership or association, similar to the use of possessive pronouns in English such as “my”, “your”, or “his/her”. In Maori, the possessives are often attached to the noun they modify, and also require agreement in plurality.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank with Appropriate Possessive
1. Ka whakahawea ratou i *taku* whare. (My)
2. I aha koe i *tana* pukapuka? (His/Her)
3. He pai te kai a *rÄtou*. (Their)
4. NÅ *mÄtou* te whenua nei. (Our)
5. Ka waiho *tÅ* potae ki hea? (Your)
6. Ka whakaaro ahau kei *tÅna* waka. (His/Her)
7. NÅ *Åna* tamariki te kÄmu. (His/Her)
8. *TÄku* whaea kei te whare. (My)
9. Kei *tÅku* mÄtÄmua te whare iti. (My)
10. He rite *to* Ä«nanga ki te kÅura. (Your)
11. Ka mahi a Molly i *tÄna* whare. (Her)
12. Kei te whare a *rÄtou* te whare. (Their)
13. Ka whakaritea e koe *tÄtou* hui. (Our)
14. Kei te whare a *kÅrua* te tÄpu. (Your)
15. NÅ *Åku* hoa te whare nui. (My)
2. I aha koe i *tana* pukapuka? (His/Her)
3. He pai te kai a *rÄtou*. (Their)
4. NÅ *mÄtou* te whenua nei. (Our)
5. Ka waiho *tÅ* potae ki hea? (Your)
6. Ka whakaaro ahau kei *tÅna* waka. (His/Her)
7. NÅ *Åna* tamariki te kÄmu. (His/Her)
8. *TÄku* whaea kei te whare. (My)
9. Kei *tÅku* mÄtÄmua te whare iti. (My)
10. He rite *to* Ä«nanga ki te kÅura. (Your)
11. Ka mahi a Molly i *tÄna* whare. (Her)
12. Kei te whare a *rÄtou* te whare. (Their)
13. Ka whakaritea e koe *tÄtou* hui. (Our)
14. Kei te whare a *kÅrua* te tÄpu. (Your)
15. NÅ *Åku* hoa te whare nui. (My)
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blank with Appropriate Possessive
1. Ka whakarongo ahau ki *tÅku* waiata. (My)
2. Ka whakakī a Sarah i *tana* kapu. (Her)
3. He roa *tÅ* rererangi. (Your)
4. NÅ *Åku* whanaunga te whare nui. (My)
5. Ka whakatika a John i *Åna* takatu. (His)
6. Ka whakakore a Emily i *tana* kÄmu. (Her)
7. I hoko *tÄtou* whare. (Our)
8. He tino kaha *rÄtou* tÅ«manako. (Their)
9. E whakaaro ana ahau kei *tÅna* motokÄ. (His/Her)
10. Ka whakakÅrero a Tim i *tana* korero. (His)
11. *TÄku* koro kei te whare. (My)
12. Ka whakanui *tÄtou* toro atu. (Our)
13. He tino pai *tÅ* kotiro. (Your)
14. *TÅku* tuahine kei te waiata. (My)
15. Ka whakapau kaha a Paul i *Åna* mahi. (His)
2. Ka whakakī a Sarah i *tana* kapu. (Her)
3. He roa *tÅ* rererangi. (Your)
4. NÅ *Åku* whanaunga te whare nui. (My)
5. Ka whakatika a John i *Åna* takatu. (His)
6. Ka whakakore a Emily i *tana* kÄmu. (Her)
7. I hoko *tÄtou* whare. (Our)
8. He tino kaha *rÄtou* tÅ«manako. (Their)
9. E whakaaro ana ahau kei *tÅna* motokÄ. (His/Her)
10. Ka whakakÅrero a Tim i *tana* korero. (His)
11. *TÄku* koro kei te whare. (My)
12. Ka whakanui *tÄtou* toro atu. (Our)
13. He tino pai *tÅ* kotiro. (Your)
14. *TÅku* tuahine kei te waiata. (My)
15. Ka whakapau kaha a Paul i *Åna* mahi. (His)