In Maori grammar, demonstrative adjectives are critical linguistic tools that identify and refer to nouns based on various factors such as spatial relationships (distance) and plurality. They can equate to words like ‘this’, ‘these’, ‘that’, ‘those’ in English grammar. Maori language has three groups of demonstrative adjectives: tenei, tena, and tera (referring to ‘this’ near the speaker, ‘that’ near the listener, and ‘that’ over there, far from both, respectively). Moreover, these demonstrative adjectives must agree in number with the noun they are describing.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct demonstrative adjectives
1. He pukapuka *tenei* (this).
2. He whare *tena* (that).
3. He tangata *tera* (that over there).
4. He waka *tenei* (this).
5. He whare *tena* (that).
6. He kuri *tera* (that over there).
7. He rakau *tenei* (this).
8. He manu *tena* (that).
9. He ika *tera* (that over there).
10. He kotiro *tenei* (this).
11. He tamaiti *tena* (that).
12. He wahine *tera* (that over there).
13. He tauira *tenei* (this).
14. He kaumatua *tena* (that).
15. He tamariki *tera* (that over there).
2. He whare *tena* (that).
3. He tangata *tera* (that over there).
4. He waka *tenei* (this).
5. He whare *tena* (that).
6. He kuri *tera* (that over there).
7. He rakau *tenei* (this).
8. He manu *tena* (that).
9. He ika *tera* (that over there).
10. He kotiro *tenei* (this).
11. He tamaiti *tena* (that).
12. He wahine *tera* (that over there).
13. He tauira *tenei* (this).
14. He kaumatua *tena* (that).
15. He tamariki *tera* (that over there).
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct demonstrative adjectives
1. He whanau *tenei* (this).
2. He tangata *tena* (that).
3. He rongoa *tera* (that over there).
4. He whakapapa *tenei* (this).
5. He kai *tena* (that).
6. He wai *tera* (that over there).
7. He waiata *tenei* (this).
8. He wharekai *tena* (that).
9. He wahi *tera* (that over there).
10. He tauira *tenei* (this).
11. He wharepaku *tena* (that).
12. He mere *tera* (that over there).
13. He korero *tenei* (this).
14. He tohunga *tena* (that).
15. He kohatu *tera* (that over there).
2. He tangata *tena* (that).
3. He rongoa *tera* (that over there).
4. He whakapapa *tenei* (this).
5. He kai *tena* (that).
6. He wai *tera* (that over there).
7. He waiata *tenei* (this).
8. He wharekai *tena* (that).
9. He wahi *tera* (that over there).
10. He tauira *tenei* (this).
11. He wharepaku *tena* (that).
12. He mere *tera* (that over there).
13. He korero *tenei* (this).
14. He tohunga *tena* (that).
15. He kohatu *tera* (that over there).
