Common nouns in Māori grammar are used to indicate people, places, things, or ideas. They are uncapitalized unless they start a sentence and can be counted or preceded by numerals. These nouns do not refer to specific names of people or places but rather to general items or categories. Understanding the usage of common nouns in Māori grammar is fundamental to being able to converse and write in the language.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate Māori common noun.
1. Kei te kai ahau i te *kai* (food).
2. Ko te *whare* (house) tāku wāhi noho.
3. Ka whakakī ahau i tōku *waka* (car) ki te hinu.
4. Ko taku *kuri* (dog) tino toa.
5. Kei te pānui ahau i tētahi *pukapuka* (book).
6. Kei roto i te *pouaka* (box) ētahi hua.
7. He *tamaiti* (child) kei te tiki i te pōro.
8. Te *kākahu* (clothes) kei runga i te moenga.
9. He *pū* (gun) kei roto i te kete.
10. He *rākau* (tree) nui kei waho i te whare.
11. Kei roto i te *kete* (basket) ētahi āporo.
12. He *pōro* (ball) rite ki te rā.
13. Kei te whāwhā te *kotiro* (girl) i tana pore.
14. He *rā* (day) ātaahua tēnei.
15. Kei te whiti te *whetu* (star) ki waho i te pō.
2. Ko te *whare* (house) tāku wāhi noho.
3. Ka whakakī ahau i tōku *waka* (car) ki te hinu.
4. Ko taku *kuri* (dog) tino toa.
5. Kei te pānui ahau i tētahi *pukapuka* (book).
6. Kei roto i te *pouaka* (box) ētahi hua.
7. He *tamaiti* (child) kei te tiki i te pōro.
8. Te *kākahu* (clothes) kei runga i te moenga.
9. He *pū* (gun) kei roto i te kete.
10. He *rākau* (tree) nui kei waho i te whare.
11. Kei roto i te *kete* (basket) ētahi āporo.
12. He *pōro* (ball) rite ki te rā.
13. Kei te whāwhā te *kotiro* (girl) i tana pore.
14. He *rā* (day) ātaahua tēnei.
15. Kei te whiti te *whetu* (star) ki waho i te pō.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate Māori common noun.
1. He *tohora*(whale) kei roto i te moana.
2. Kei roto i te *pouaka*(box) he hua.
3. E toru nga *tamariki*(children) i te whare.
4. Kei whakareri te *kaiako*(teacher) i te akomanga.
5. Ka koanga, nga *manu*(birds) ka waiata.
6. He iti te *pukeko*(black swan) kei te awa.
7. He *wharekai*(restaurant) tino pai tenei.
8. He *momo*(kind) rereke te tamaiti.
9. He *waka*(vehicle) mā koe.
10. He *motoka*(car) nui kei te parakarake.
11. Te *poaka*(pig) kei te whare kararehe.
12. E haere ana ahau ki te *tohora*(market).
13. E whakakii ana te *kapene*(captain) i te waka.
14. Kei te whakakii te *kuka*(cook) i te poti ki nga kai.
15. He nui te *wiwini*(wine) i te roto i te ipu.
2. Kei roto i te *pouaka*(box) he hua.
3. E toru nga *tamariki*(children) i te whare.
4. Kei whakareri te *kaiako*(teacher) i te akomanga.
5. Ka koanga, nga *manu*(birds) ka waiata.
6. He iti te *pukeko*(black swan) kei te awa.
7. He *wharekai*(restaurant) tino pai tenei.
8. He *momo*(kind) rereke te tamaiti.
9. He *waka*(vehicle) mā koe.
10. He *motoka*(car) nui kei te parakarake.
11. Te *poaka*(pig) kei te whare kararehe.
12. E haere ana ahau ki te *tohora*(market).
13. E whakakii ana te *kapene*(captain) i te waka.
14. Kei te whakakii te *kuka*(cook) i te poti ki nga kai.
15. He nui te *wiwini*(wine) i te roto i te ipu.
