In Te Reo Māori, comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between two or more entities, either in terms of their quality, quantity or degree. Comparative adjectives usually end with the suffix ‘-tia’ but can also be expressed by using terms such as ‘pēnei’, ‘pērā’, ‘anō’, or ‘rere’. For instance, ‘nui’ is an adjective which means ‘big’ and ‘nuia’ means ‘bigger’. Now, let’s practice these comparisons in the following exercises.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks for comparative quantities or quality
1. He *nui* (bigger) te whare nei i te whare rā.
2. He *poto* (shorter) ahau i to matou papa.
3. He *roa* (longer) te huarahi nei i te huarahi rā.
4. He *anō* (similar) taku whakaaro ki to whakaaro.
5. Kei te *tino* (more) mōhio koe ki Te Reo Māori i ahau.
6. Kātahi anō ahau ka kite i tētahi tangata *pārekareka* (interesting) i a koe.
7. He *whakahirahira* (important) ake taku mahi i tō mahi.
8. He *whakakīkī* (stubborn) ake koe i a ahau.
9. Kei te *nui* (much) pukumahi koe i a ia.
10. He *pakarutia* (broken) taku potae i tō potae.
11. Ko Bob te tangata *pānikitini* (fearful) o tatou katoa.
12. He *pakeke* (older) ake koe i te tamaiti.
13. Kua *tino* (more) kata ahau i a koe.
14. Kua *tino* (more) pōuri ahau i a koe.
15. He tino *whanoke* (amazing) ake koe i au.
2. He *poto* (shorter) ahau i to matou papa.
3. He *roa* (longer) te huarahi nei i te huarahi rā.
4. He *anō* (similar) taku whakaaro ki to whakaaro.
5. Kei te *tino* (more) mōhio koe ki Te Reo Māori i ahau.
6. Kātahi anō ahau ka kite i tētahi tangata *pārekareka* (interesting) i a koe.
7. He *whakahirahira* (important) ake taku mahi i tō mahi.
8. He *whakakīkī* (stubborn) ake koe i a ahau.
9. Kei te *nui* (much) pukumahi koe i a ia.
10. He *pakarutia* (broken) taku potae i tō potae.
11. Ko Bob te tangata *pānikitini* (fearful) o tatou katoa.
12. He *pakeke* (older) ake koe i te tamaiti.
13. Kua *tino* (more) kata ahau i a koe.
14. Kua *tino* (more) pōuri ahau i a koe.
15. He tino *whanoke* (amazing) ake koe i au.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with comparative adjectives for likeness or difference
1. He roa maku i tētahi *whakahē* (disagreeable) i a ia.
2. He *tino* (more) aroha ahau ki a koe i te tangata rā.
3. Kāore he tangata *pērā* (like) me koe.
4. He *pūkengatia* (knowledgeable) koe i taku mama.
5. Ko Mary he wahine *tino* (more) aroha i a Sue.
6. Kāore e whakahē ahau, he *tino* (more) pai koe i a ia.
7. He *whakaaro* (opinion) anō tōku.
8. He *tautoko* (support) anō taku.
9. He *kōrerotia* (discussed) anō taku.
10. He *tino* (more) mōhio rātou i a mātou.
11. He *tino* (more) pai tō puku huri i tōku.
12. I whiwhi tō matou tīma i te wā whakatuwheratia o te whakapāpāho.
13. Kua whāwhātia te *tātaitia* (ordered) me ngā whakaaturanga whaihua.
14. I āwhina te *whakatakotia* (laid) i te papa rīhi.
15. He *wawe* (fast) tō rerenga i taku rerenga.
2. He *tino* (more) aroha ahau ki a koe i te tangata rā.
3. Kāore he tangata *pērā* (like) me koe.
4. He *pūkengatia* (knowledgeable) koe i taku mama.
5. Ko Mary he wahine *tino* (more) aroha i a Sue.
6. Kāore e whakahē ahau, he *tino* (more) pai koe i a ia.
7. He *whakaaro* (opinion) anō tōku.
8. He *tautoko* (support) anō taku.
9. He *kōrerotia* (discussed) anō taku.
10. He *tino* (more) mōhio rātou i a mātou.
11. He *tino* (more) pai tō puku huri i tōku.
12. I whiwhi tō matou tīma i te wā whakatuwheratia o te whakapāpāho.
13. Kua whāwhātia te *tātaitia* (ordered) me ngā whakaaturanga whaihua.
14. I āwhina te *whakatakotia* (laid) i te papa rīhi.
15. He *wawe* (fast) tō rerenga i taku rerenga.
