Reflexive pronouns in Māori grammar are a crucial part of sentence construction. They enable a person to express actions or feelings that one directs towards oneself. Māori language uses these pronouns frequently, making it essential for learners to master them. The primary reflexive pronoun in Māori is ‘tona’, which can be translated into English as ‘his, her, its, or one’s own’. This exercise is designed to help you understand and practice the proper use of reflexive pronouns in Māori.
Exercise 1: Fill in the gaps with the appropriate Māori reflexive pronouns
1. He *tona* whare tenei. (his)
2. I whakaritea e ia *tona* kakahu. (her)
3. I hopukia e te kotuku *tona* ika. (its)
4. I whakaritea e ia *tona* moenga. (his)
5. He *tona* whare tenei. (its)
6. Ka whakawhitiwhiti korero ratou mo *tona* mahi. (his)
7. I whakaritea e ia *tona* wharekai. (her)
8. I whakaritea e ratou *tona* tino mahi. (his)
9. I whakaritea e ratou *tona* whare. (its)
10. Ka whakawhitiwhiti korero ratou mo *tona* mahi. (her)
11. He *tona* whare ranei tenei? (his)
12. I takatu ratou i *tona* kai. (her)
13. I hopukia e te kotuku *tona* ika. (its)
14. I whakaritea e ratou *tona* tino mahi. (its)
15. He *tona* whare tenei. (her)
2. I whakaritea e ia *tona* kakahu. (her)
3. I hopukia e te kotuku *tona* ika. (its)
4. I whakaritea e ia *tona* moenga. (his)
5. He *tona* whare tenei. (its)
6. Ka whakawhitiwhiti korero ratou mo *tona* mahi. (his)
7. I whakaritea e ia *tona* wharekai. (her)
8. I whakaritea e ratou *tona* tino mahi. (his)
9. I whakaritea e ratou *tona* whare. (its)
10. Ka whakawhitiwhiti korero ratou mo *tona* mahi. (her)
11. He *tona* whare ranei tenei? (his)
12. I takatu ratou i *tona* kai. (her)
13. I hopukia e te kotuku *tona* ika. (its)
14. I whakaritea e ratou *tona* tino mahi. (its)
15. He *tona* whare tenei. (her)
Exercise 2: Fill in the gaps with the appropriate Māori reflexive pronouns
1. He *tona* whanau tenei. (his)
2. I whakaritea e ia *tona* waiata. (her)
3. I whiwhi te manuhiri i *tona* whakataetae. (its)
4. He *tona* marae tenei. (its)
5. I whakaritea e ia *tona* waahi ngaro. (his)
6. I whakaritea e ratou *tona* whare whakairo. (its)
7. I takatu ratou i *tona* umu. (her)
8. Ka whakawhitiwhiti korero ratou mo *tona* tikanga. (his)
9. Ka whakawhitiwhiti korero ratou mo *tona* ora. (her)
10. I whakaritea e ia *tona* whare tūpāpaku. (his)
11. He *tona* whanau tenei. (her)
12. I takatu ratou i *tona* hangi. (his)
13. I whiwhi te ika i *tona* whakapapa. (its)
14. Ka whakawhitiwhiti korero ratou mo *tona* rohe. (his)
15. I whakaritea e ratou *tona* whare karakia. (its)
2. I whakaritea e ia *tona* waiata. (her)
3. I whiwhi te manuhiri i *tona* whakataetae. (its)
4. He *tona* marae tenei. (its)
5. I whakaritea e ia *tona* waahi ngaro. (his)
6. I whakaritea e ratou *tona* whare whakairo. (its)
7. I takatu ratou i *tona* umu. (her)
8. Ka whakawhitiwhiti korero ratou mo *tona* tikanga. (his)
9. Ka whakawhitiwhiti korero ratou mo *tona* ora. (her)
10. I whakaritea e ia *tona* whare tūpāpaku. (his)
11. He *tona* whanau tenei. (her)
12. I takatu ratou i *tona* hangi. (his)
13. I whiwhi te ika i *tona* whakapapa. (its)
14. Ka whakawhitiwhiti korero ratou mo *tona* rohe. (his)
15. I whakaritea e ratou *tona* whare karakia. (its)
