Adverbs of time in Maori grammar are words or phrases that modify a verb, an adjective or another adverb to tell when an event happens. They are essential tools in the language, helping to create context around timing, including frequency, duration, and sequence of events. Just like other adverbs, adverbs of time can come in different places in a sentence.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with the appropriate Maori adverb of time
1. E te *ata* (morning) ka whakatika ahau.
2. Kei te *haere* (go) ahau ki te kura ia ra.
3. Ka noho ahau ki *waho* (outside) ia po.
4. He *tino* (very) pai te ahiahi.
5. I *muri* (afterwards) ka kai tatou.
6. Ka whakapau kaha ahau *aianei* (now).
7. Ka kite ahau i a koe *apopo* (tomorrow).
8. He aha te mahi o *ianei* (now)?
9. *Noa* (since) te wa kua neke atu.
10. Kei te mahi ahau *tonu* (still).
11. Kua haere *whakamuri* (backward) ia.
12. Ka whakarongo ahau ki te waiata *tonu* (still).
13. Ka whakapau kaha *a mua* (later).
14. E *noho* (stay) ana ahau ki te kura.
15. Ka whakakii ahau i te poka *a muri* (later).
Exercise 2: Fill in the blank with the appropriate Maori adverb of time
1. E *haere* (left) ana ahau ki te wharepaku.
2. Kei te *noho* (staying) ahau ki taku whare.
3. Ka whakatika ahau *apopo* (tomorrow).
4. E whakapau kaha ana ahau *aianei* (now).
5. Kua haere mai *noa* (since).
6. *A muri* (afterwards) ka whakapau kaha.
7. *A mua* (before) i te wharepaku, ka whakakii i te poka.
8. Ka mahi ahau i a *ianei* (now).
9. Ka whakaako ahau *apopo* (tomorrow).
10. E *haere* (stay) ana ahau ki te whare.
11. Kei te kai ahau *aianei* (now).
12. Kei te hikoi ahau i te *ata* (morning).
13. Ka whakarongo ahau ki te waiata *noa* (still).
14. Ka whakatika ahau i te *po* (night).
15. Ka noho ahau ki *waho* (outside) ia ra.