Descriptive adjectives in Maori grammar are words used to describe or modify a noun or pronoun to make it more specific and add to the meaning of a sentence. In Maori language, these adjectives usually follow the noun they are describing unlike in English where they precede it. The understanding and correct usage of these adjectives is key to more sophisticated and accurate expression in Te Reo Maori.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with an appropriate descriptive adjective.
1. He *iti* te marama. (small)
2. He *nui* ngā whare. (big)
3. Ka whiwhi *roa* ahau i te kitakita. (long)
4. Ka whānuitia te *whirinaki*. (wide)
5. Kei te whakatinana i te *tohu* aroha. (deep)
6. Ka whakatewhatewha i te *karu* rahi. (large)
7. He *poto* te whenua. (short)
8. He *mā* taku whero. (white)
9. He *reka* te kakara. (sweet)
10. He *whenua* hinu. (oily)
11. Kei te *harikoa* ahau. (happy)
12. He *roa* te ra hou. (new)
13. He *tino* makariri tenei ra. (very)
14. He *roa* te whakatipuranga. (long)
15. Kei te *korokoro* kakara. (smelly)
2. He *nui* ngā whare. (big)
3. Ka whiwhi *roa* ahau i te kitakita. (long)
4. Ka whānuitia te *whirinaki*. (wide)
5. Kei te whakatinana i te *tohu* aroha. (deep)
6. Ka whakatewhatewha i te *karu* rahi. (large)
7. He *poto* te whenua. (short)
8. He *mā* taku whero. (white)
9. He *reka* te kakara. (sweet)
10. He *whenua* hinu. (oily)
11. Kei te *harikoa* ahau. (happy)
12. He *roa* te ra hou. (new)
13. He *tino* makariri tenei ra. (very)
14. He *roa* te whakatipuranga. (long)
15. Kei te *korokoro* kakara. (smelly)
Exercise 2: Choose the correct descriptive adjective to complete the sentence.
1. He *kino* te aroha. (bad)
2. He *pai* te whakaaro. (good)
3. Kei te *makariri* ahau. (cold)
4. He *hora* te wehenga. (wide)
5. He *wera* te rā. (hot)
6. He *whero* tāku kakahu. (red)
7. Kei te whakakino i te *wehi* whakamiharo. (frightening)
8. He *tino* reka te mea. (very)
9. He *anō* te kitenga. (strange)
10. He *paku* te pa. (small)
11. He *rerehua* te wahine. (beautiful)
12. He *tawhito* te rongoā. (old)
13. He *hōu* te tūmanako. (new)
14. He *tipu* te rākau. (growing)
15. He *piko* te ara. (bendy)
2. He *pai* te whakaaro. (good)
3. Kei te *makariri* ahau. (cold)
4. He *hora* te wehenga. (wide)
5. He *wera* te rā. (hot)
6. He *whero* tāku kakahu. (red)
7. Kei te whakakino i te *wehi* whakamiharo. (frightening)
8. He *tino* reka te mea. (very)
9. He *anō* te kitenga. (strange)
10. He *paku* te pa. (small)
11. He *rerehua* te wahine. (beautiful)
12. He *tawhito* te rongoā. (old)
13. He *hōu* te tūmanako. (new)
14. He *tipu* te rākau. (growing)
15. He *piko* te ara. (bendy)
