The second conditional in Maori grammar is used to talk about hypothetical situations, imagined events, or speculation. It commonly uses the sequence “me… ai”, where “ai” is the verb in the conditional clause. In keeping with this, these exercises will test your understanding of how to formulate these if-then structures in the Maori language.
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1. Me *hoko* (buy) ahau i te tiketi, ka whakaeke ahau ki te whakakore. (If I buy the ticket, I would enter the contest.)
2. Mehemea ki *tiro* (watch) koe i te whakataetae, ka whakapau kaha ahau. (If you were to watch the competition, I would try hard.)
3. Me *ako* (learn) au i te reorangi, ka taea e ahau te korero ki a koutou. (If I learn the language, I could talk with you.)
4. Mehemea ka *hiahia* (want) koe ki te whakauru ki te kura, me whakapau werawera ahau. (If you were to want to join the school, I would need to work hard.)
5. Me *mau* (take) ahau i te poti, ka whakaae te whanau. (If I win the election, the family would agree.)
2. Mehemea ki *tiro* (watch) koe i te whakataetae, ka whakapau kaha ahau. (If you were to watch the competition, I would try hard.)
3. Me *ako* (learn) au i te reorangi, ka taea e ahau te korero ki a koutou. (If I learn the language, I could talk with you.)
4. Mehemea ka *hiahia* (want) koe ki te whakauru ki te kura, me whakapau werawera ahau. (If you were to want to join the school, I would need to work hard.)
5. Me *mau* (take) ahau i te poti, ka whakaae te whanau. (If I win the election, the family would agree.)
Exercise 2: Choose the correct verb to complete each sentence incorporating the second conditional structure.
1. Mehemea ka *whana* (thrive) nga tipu, ka whawhai matou ki te maakete. (If the plants thrive, we would compete in the market.)
2. Me *waipiro* (drink) au i te ti, ka whakataetae ahau ki te ririki. (In the event of my drinking tea, I would contribute to the discussion.)
3. Mehemea ki *ahei* (able) koe ki te whakatutuki i to whakaro, ka whakapau kaha ahau. (If you were able to fulfill your idea, I would put in effort.)
4. Mehemea ka *whakapau* (expend) koe i to moni, ka whakauru ahau ki te mahi. (If you were to spend your money, I would engage in the job.)
5. Me *ake* (succeed) ahau i roto i te mahi, ka whakaae te tumuaki. (If I were to succeed in the work, the principal would consent.)
2. Me *waipiro* (drink) au i te ti, ka whakataetae ahau ki te ririki. (In the event of my drinking tea, I would contribute to the discussion.)
3. Mehemea ki *ahei* (able) koe ki te whakatutuki i to whakaro, ka whakapau kaha ahau. (If you were able to fulfill your idea, I would put in effort.)
4. Mehemea ka *whakapau* (expend) koe i to moni, ka whakauru ahau ki te mahi. (If you were to spend your money, I would engage in the job.)
5. Me *ake* (succeed) ahau i roto i te mahi, ka whakaae te tumuaki. (If I were to succeed in the work, the principal would consent.)
