Indefinite pronouns in Maori grammar are fascinating because they do not designate a specific person, thing, or quantity. They are entirely non-specific and the meaning of the indefinite pronoun entirely depends on the context. Some of the common indefinite pronouns in Maori grammar include ‘wahi’ (some), ‘tena’ (that), and ‘tetahi’ (one). These pronouns can be used in a variety of situations and with different verb tenses, adding depth and flexibility to the language.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with correct indefinite pronouns in Maori language
1. He kōrero *tetahi* me whakarongo tana whānau. (one)
2. Kua hoki mai ki te kāinga koe i *wahi* ra? (some)
3. Ka whakapau kaha ia ki te whakaatu i *tena*. (that)
4. I mahi *tetahi* ki te wharekai. (one)
5. I whakaritea e *wahi* kai. (some)
6. E whakatika ana *tena* hoia. (that)
7. He *wahi* tangata i roto i te whare. (some)
8. Kua whakaritea *tena* tikanga. (that)
9. Kitea *tetahi* tangata. (one)
10. Kua whakapau kaha *wahi* ki te whakakore i te ture. (some)
11. I hararei *tena* tamaiti. (that)
12. I mahara *tetahi* kia whakarite i te hui. (one)
13. I whakarite *wahi* kaihaere i te kaupapa. (some)
14. Ka whakapau kaha *tena* ki te tiki moni. (that)
15. I whakapa *tetahi* kaituhi. (one)
2. Kua hoki mai ki te kāinga koe i *wahi* ra? (some)
3. Ka whakapau kaha ia ki te whakaatu i *tena*. (that)
4. I mahi *tetahi* ki te wharekai. (one)
5. I whakaritea e *wahi* kai. (some)
6. E whakatika ana *tena* hoia. (that)
7. He *wahi* tangata i roto i te whare. (some)
8. Kua whakaritea *tena* tikanga. (that)
9. Kitea *tetahi* tangata. (one)
10. Kua whakapau kaha *wahi* ki te whakakore i te ture. (some)
11. I hararei *tena* tamaiti. (that)
12. I mahara *tetahi* kia whakarite i te hui. (one)
13. I whakarite *wahi* kaihaere i te kaupapa. (some)
14. Ka whakapau kaha *tena* ki te tiki moni. (that)
15. I whakapa *tetahi* kaituhi. (one)
Exercise 2: Completing sentences using Indefinite pronouns in Maori
1. He whakaaro *tetahi* ki te whakapai. (one)
2. *Tena* whare wera. (that)
3. Kua whakakii *wahi* pukapuka. (some)
4. Ko *tetahi* pūkōrero. (one)
5. He whakaaro *tena* kaiako. (that)
6. Kua whakakii *wahi* āporo. (some)
7. Ka whakawhitiwhiti korero *tetahi*. (one)
8. Ko *tena* tangata ra whaea. (that)
9. Kei *wahi* whare tamariki. (some)
10. He whakanui *tetahi* i te rā. (one)
11. He whare tapu *tena*. (that)
12. He kura *wahi* kei te tonga tonu. (some)
13. Kei *tetahi* whare whakatoi. (one)
14. Kua whakatū *tena* pou. (that)
15. Kua whakatū *wahi* rakau. (some)
2. *Tena* whare wera. (that)
3. Kua whakakii *wahi* pukapuka. (some)
4. Ko *tetahi* pūkōrero. (one)
5. He whakaaro *tena* kaiako. (that)
6. Kua whakakii *wahi* āporo. (some)
7. Ka whakawhitiwhiti korero *tetahi*. (one)
8. Ko *tena* tangata ra whaea. (that)
9. Kei *wahi* whare tamariki. (some)
10. He whakanui *tetahi* i te rā. (one)
11. He whare tapu *tena*. (that)
12. He kura *wahi* kei te tonga tonu. (some)
13. Kei *tetahi* whare whakatoi. (one)
14. Kua whakatū *tena* pou. (that)
15. Kua whakatū *wahi* rakau. (some)
