Personal pronouns in Maori grammar, frequently referred to as Tangata words, are an integral part of the language. Working similarly to English pronouns, they are used to refer to the speaker, the person(s) spoken to, or the person(s) or thing(s) spoken about. Learning these pronouns is an essential step in mastering the Maori language, as it opens up the ability to create second person narratives, converse more fluidly, and understand more complex sentences and texts.
Exercise 1 – Fill in the blanks with the correct personal pronoun
1. *Ahau* e whakarongo ana ki te pūoro. (I)
2. *Koe* e hoko i te kai. (You)
3. *Ia* e whakatika i te whare. (He/she)
4. *Tātou* e haere ki te wharekura. (We)
5. *Kōrua* e whakatika i te whare. (You two)
6. *Rātou* e hoko i te kai. (They)
7. *Māua* e whakarongo ana ki te pūoro. (We two)
8. *Koutou* e haere ki te wharekura. (You all)
9. *Mātou* e whakatika i te whare. (We)
10. *Kōrua* e hoko i te kai. (You two)
11. *Rāua* e whakarongo ana ki te pūoro. (They two)
12. *Koe* e haere ki te wharekura. (You)
13. *Ia* e whakatika i te whare. (He/she)
14. *Ahau* e hoko i te kai. (I)
15. *Rātou* e whakarongo ana ki te pūoro. (They)
Exercise 2 – Choose the right personal pronoun
1. *Tātou* e whakarongo ana ki te pūoro. (We)
2. *Kōrua* e hoko i te kai. (You two)
3. *Ahau* e whakatika i te whare. (I)
4. *Koe* e haere ki te wharekura. (You)
5. *Rātou* e whakatika i te whare. (They)
6. *Māua* e hoko i te kai. (We two)
7. *Ia* e whakarongo ana ki te pūoro. (He/she)
8. *Koutou* e whakatika i te whare. (You all)
9. *Rāua* e hoko i te kai. (They two)
10. *Mātou* e whakarongo ana ki te pūoro. (We)
11. *Koe* e whakatika i te whare. (You)
12. *Ahau* e haere ki te wharekura. (I)
13. *Rātou* e hoko i te kai. (They)
14. *Ia* e haere ki te wharekura. (He/she)
15. *Koutou* e whakarongo ana ki te pūoro. (You all)