Prepositions of time are extremely crucial in Maori grammar like it is in any language. They provide a specific time reference associated with an event or action. This includes specifying the time when the action is taking place or took place, indicating duration and sequence, etc. These prepositions add a very integral layer of depth and clarity to conversations and are heavily used in day-to-day chatting. This exercise will help you to understand and practice these prepositions of time in Maori language.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct Preposition of Time
1. Ka hikitia nga kohinga korero *a muri* (afterward) mata.
2. He whakatau tana whakatau *i mua* (before) te whakaati.
3. E takatu ana matau *mo* (for) te tau.
4. Ka korero ahau *i te wa* (during) te raki.
5. Ka whakaatu ia *i waenga* (between) te hui.
6. I te waa *mokemoke* (alone) nga ra.
7. He whakatau tana ki te tero *i roto* (inside) i te whare.
8. Ka hui ratou *i waenga* (among) nga whaitua.
9. Ka whakapau kaha ratou *i enei ra* (these days) ki te mahi.
10. Ka whakapau kaha *i muri mai* (later) kia whakarite ki te whakatau.
11. Ka whieti hia te ara *i mua* (before) te whakapau.
12. Ka tino titiro ahau ki a ia *mai* (from) te taha.
13. Ka whakakore e whakaae *ki te wa* (until) i whakatau.
14. Kei reira nga hipi *i muri* (behind) i te whare.
15. Ka whakapau kaha *noa* (until) i te mutunga o te hui.
2. He whakatau tana whakatau *i mua* (before) te whakaati.
3. E takatu ana matau *mo* (for) te tau.
4. Ka korero ahau *i te wa* (during) te raki.
5. Ka whakaatu ia *i waenga* (between) te hui.
6. I te waa *mokemoke* (alone) nga ra.
7. He whakatau tana ki te tero *i roto* (inside) i te whare.
8. Ka hui ratou *i waenga* (among) nga whaitua.
9. Ka whakapau kaha ratou *i enei ra* (these days) ki te mahi.
10. Ka whakapau kaha *i muri mai* (later) kia whakarite ki te whakatau.
11. Ka whieti hia te ara *i mua* (before) te whakapau.
12. Ka tino titiro ahau ki a ia *mai* (from) te taha.
13. Ka whakakore e whakaae *ki te wa* (until) i whakatau.
14. Kei reira nga hipi *i muri* (behind) i te whare.
15. Ka whakapau kaha *noa* (until) i te mutunga o te hui.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct Preposition of Time
1. Kei *roto* (inside) te whare nga pukapuka.
2. Ka whakawhiti ahau *ki* (to) te taha o te wahi.
3. Ka haere ahau *i nga ra* (in) o mua.
4. Ka whakarite ahau *mo* (for) te hui.
5. Kei *to* (at) tana taha a nga whairiki.
6. Ka whakakii ia i te poka *i mua* (before) te whakatau.
7. Ka whakapau kaha *mai* (since) i te whakarite.
8. Ka whakaatu ia i te whakataetae *i waenga* (in the middle) o nga wa.
9. Ka whakapau kaha ahau ki te whakarereke *i mua* (before) te whakataetae.
10. Ka whakatau *mo* (during) te hui.
11. Ka haere ratou ki raro *i muri* (after) te whakapau.
12. Ka korero ratou *i nga wa* (when) kua whakatau.
13. Kei *roto* (inside) o te whare ngā tini whakaaturanga.
14. Ka whakapau kaha ia *i te wa* (during) o nga ra.
15. Ka kaha te whakapau kaha *noa* (up to) i te whakarite.
2. Ka whakawhiti ahau *ki* (to) te taha o te wahi.
3. Ka haere ahau *i nga ra* (in) o mua.
4. Ka whakarite ahau *mo* (for) te hui.
5. Kei *to* (at) tana taha a nga whairiki.
6. Ka whakakii ia i te poka *i mua* (before) te whakatau.
7. Ka whakapau kaha *mai* (since) i te whakarite.
8. Ka whakaatu ia i te whakataetae *i waenga* (in the middle) o nga wa.
9. Ka whakapau kaha ahau ki te whakarereke *i mua* (before) te whakataetae.
10. Ka whakatau *mo* (during) te hui.
11. Ka haere ratou ki raro *i muri* (after) te whakapau.
12. Ka korero ratou *i nga wa* (when) kua whakatau.
13. Kei *roto* (inside) o te whare ngā tini whakaaturanga.
14. Ka whakapau kaha ia *i te wa* (during) o nga ra.
15. Ka kaha te whakapau kaha *noa* (up to) i te whakarite.
