Comparative adverbs in Maori grammar are used to describe the relation between two actions, states, or objects. Like “more”, “less”, “too”, “as”, these comparative adverbs differ significantly in Maori from their English counterparts. They allow us to compare one thing to another, hence the name. Mastery of these comparisons is crucial for achieving fluency in te reo Maori.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with the correct form of the Comparative adverb.
1. He *anō* hoki ahau ki te whare. (more – anō)
2. Kei te whakapau *rawa* koe i to moni. (too – rawa)
3. He *kino rawa* te huarahi. (very – rawa)
4. Kua *whakakapi* ahau i taku whare. (nearly – whakakapi)
5. Kua *roa rawa* koe i konei. (too long – roa rawa)
6. Ka *ore rawa* koe e whakaoti i nga mahi. (never – ore rawa)
7. Kei hea *atui* o koutou whare? (where else – atui)
8. Tenei *anei* nga kararehe a Mere. (indeed – anei)
9. Ka *orangai* koe i taku whare? (improve – orangui)
10. Kua *maha* nga tau e mahi ana. (many – maha)
11. Kei te *neke* atu i te hohipera? (move – neke)
12. He *iti rawa* taku whare. (too small – iti rawa)
13. Ka *wananga* ahau ki te whare wananga. (study – wananga)
14. Kei te *peke* ahau ki te toronga o te awa. (jump – peke)
15. Kei te *roa* te hui. (long – roa)
2. Kei te whakapau *rawa* koe i to moni. (too – rawa)
3. He *kino rawa* te huarahi. (very – rawa)
4. Kua *whakakapi* ahau i taku whare. (nearly – whakakapi)
5. Kua *roa rawa* koe i konei. (too long – roa rawa)
6. Ka *ore rawa* koe e whakaoti i nga mahi. (never – ore rawa)
7. Kei hea *atui* o koutou whare? (where else – atui)
8. Tenei *anei* nga kararehe a Mere. (indeed – anei)
9. Ka *orangai* koe i taku whare? (improve – orangui)
10. Kua *maha* nga tau e mahi ana. (many – maha)
11. Kei te *neke* atu i te hohipera? (move – neke)
12. He *iti rawa* taku whare. (too small – iti rawa)
13. Ka *wananga* ahau ki te whare wananga. (study – wananga)
14. Kei te *peke* ahau ki te toronga o te awa. (jump – peke)
15. Kei te *roa* te hui. (long – roa)
Exercise 2: Fill in the blank with the correct form of the Comparative adverb.
1. Ka *kaha* ahau ki te whakatika. (strong – kaha)
2. He *maama* taku whenua. (light – maama)
3. Kei *whakararuraru* koe i te whare. (confuse – whakararuraru)
4. He *ititoki* te manu. (mainly – itiitoki)
5. Kua *pakaru* toku waka. (broken – pakaru)
6. Ka *whanau* taku tamahine. (born – whanau)
7. Ka *whakamahia* te huarahi. (use – whakamahia)
8. He *pau* te wheriko o te waka. (exhausted – pau)
9. Kei te *mihi* ahau ki a koe. (thank – mihi)
10. Kua *whakatuwhera* te kura. (open – whakatuwhera)
11. Ka *ngaoko* te maunga. (collapse – ngaoko)
12. Kua *pakaru* te whare i te aitua. (destroy – pakaru)
13. Kua *oti* ahau i te haina. (finish – oti)
14. Ka *whakahoki* ahau i te pounamu. (return – whakahoki)
15. He *kote* te hau i raro. (strong – kote)
2. He *maama* taku whenua. (light – maama)
3. Kei *whakararuraru* koe i te whare. (confuse – whakararuraru)
4. He *ititoki* te manu. (mainly – itiitoki)
5. Kua *pakaru* toku waka. (broken – pakaru)
6. Ka *whanau* taku tamahine. (born – whanau)
7. Ka *whakamahia* te huarahi. (use – whakamahia)
8. He *pau* te wheriko o te waka. (exhausted – pau)
9. Kei te *mihi* ahau ki a koe. (thank – mihi)
10. Kua *whakatuwhera* te kura. (open – whakatuwhera)
11. Ka *ngaoko* te maunga. (collapse – ngaoko)
12. Kua *pakaru* te whare i te aitua. (destroy – pakaru)
13. Kua *oti* ahau i te haina. (finish – oti)
14. Ka *whakahoki* ahau i te pounamu. (return – whakahoki)
15. He *kote* te hau i raro. (strong – kote)
