Demonstrative pronouns in Maori grammar play an important role. Demonstrative pronouns are words that replace nouns referring to places, things or people and indicate how near or far they are from the speaker. In Maori, there are three main demonstrative pronouns: tenei (this – near the speaker), tena (that – near the person addressed), tena (that – distant from the speaker and person addressed). Learning them is essential to communicate effectively in Maori.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank with the Correct Demonstrative Pronoun
1. Kei hea te pukapuka? Kei te tēpu *tēnei* (this).
2. *Tērā* (that – distant) te whare o rātou.
3. He hoa pai *tēnā* (that – near)..
4. *Tēnei* (this) te whare o mātou.
5. Nau mai ki *tērā* (that – distant) whare.
6. Hei konei te kākahu a *tēnā* (that – near) .
7. Ka whakamahi *tērā* (that – distant) tāngata i te waito.
8. *Tēnā* (that – near) te wāhi e whakatā ana ahau.
9. *Tēnei* (this) tātou kāinga.
10. He rite *tērā* (that – distant) mahi ki te mahi o to rātou.
11. *Tērā* (that – distant) te ra.
12. He hoa pai *tēnā* (that – near).
13. *Tēnei* (this) te wāhi i born ai ahau.
14. Hei konei te kāinga o *tēnei* (this).
15. Nō reira, *tērā* (that – distant) te whare o tātou.
2. *Tērā* (that – distant) te whare o rātou.
3. He hoa pai *tēnā* (that – near)..
4. *Tēnei* (this) te whare o mātou.
5. Nau mai ki *tērā* (that – distant) whare.
6. Hei konei te kākahu a *tēnā* (that – near) .
7. Ka whakamahi *tērā* (that – distant) tāngata i te waito.
8. *Tēnā* (that – near) te wāhi e whakatā ana ahau.
9. *Tēnei* (this) tātou kāinga.
10. He rite *tērā* (that – distant) mahi ki te mahi o to rātou.
11. *Tērā* (that – distant) te ra.
12. He hoa pai *tēnā* (that – near).
13. *Tēnei* (this) te wāhi i born ai ahau.
14. Hei konei te kāinga o *tēnei* (this).
15. Nō reira, *tērā* (that – distant) te whare o tātou.
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blank with the Correct Demonstrative Pronoun
1. *Tēnā* (that – near) te wāhi e tū ana te Rā.
2. *Tēnei* (this) te moana e noho ana ahau.
3. *Tērā* (that – distant) te tohu a te tāngata.
4. Kei *tēnei* (this) wāhi mahi ahau.
5. *Tēnei* (this) te wāhi i whakararuraru ai.
6. Ka whakapau kaha *tērā* (that – distant) kāinga.
7. *Tēnā* (that – near) te hoa oku rangatira.
8. *Tērā* (that – distant) te arai i te whare.
9. *Tēnei* (this) te whenua i whakararuraru ai.
10. Hei konei *tēnā* (that – near) parakuihi.
11. *Tēnā* (that – near) te hoa oku moe.
12. *Tēnei* (this) te wāhi i whakaoti ai te wharewhare.
13. *Tērā* (that – distant) te tokotoranga o ā rātou.
14. *Tēnei* (this) te tikanga a ngā iwi.
15. Kei *tēnei* (this) tokotoranga te whare tapu.
2. *Tēnei* (this) te moana e noho ana ahau.
3. *Tērā* (that – distant) te tohu a te tāngata.
4. Kei *tēnei* (this) wāhi mahi ahau.
5. *Tēnei* (this) te wāhi i whakararuraru ai.
6. Ka whakapau kaha *tērā* (that – distant) kāinga.
7. *Tēnā* (that – near) te hoa oku rangatira.
8. *Tērā* (that – distant) te arai i te whare.
9. *Tēnei* (this) te whenua i whakararuraru ai.
10. Hei konei *tēnā* (that – near) parakuihi.
11. *Tēnā* (that – near) te hoa oku moe.
12. *Tēnei* (this) te wāhi i whakaoti ai te wharewhare.
13. *Tērā* (that – distant) te tokotoranga o ā rātou.
14. *Tēnei* (this) te tikanga a ngā iwi.
15. Kei *tēnei* (this) tokotoranga te whare tapu.
