In the Maori language, the use of indefinite articles isn’t as common as in English. Indefinite articles in English include ‘a’ and ‘an’, which denote one unspecified item of a group. In Maori, the concept is often implied or expressed with different strategies such as numeral classifiers. When absorption in the language is at a certain level, you can begin to instinctively feel these nuances. However, for a beginner, it’s still important to practice and to understand this unique aspect of the Maori grammatical structure.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with the correct indefinite article equivalent
1. “He *waka* (vehicle) ma tatou.”
2. “He *whare* (house) moku.”
3. “E whai ana ahau i te *mahere* (plan) nui.”
4. “Kua whakaputa *whakatairanga* (advertisement) te kamupene.”
5. “Ma te *wharekai* (eatery) tatou ka whakatau.”
6. “E kai ana ahau i te *ika* (fish).”
7. “He *kura* (school) to matou.”
8. “E noho ana ahau ki te *taha* (side) o te awa.”
9. “E whakareri ana ahau i te *kakahu* (dress) mooi.”
10. “He *pai* (good) to whakaaro.”
11. “Ka whakarite ahau i te *hui* (meeting).”
12. “He *rongoa* (medicine) moku.”
13. “E tomo ana ahau ki te *waka* (vehicle).”
14. “Ko te *wharekai* (eatery) kei te tata ki te wharekur.”
15. “He *whare* (house) to matou kei te taha o te awa.”
2. “He *whare* (house) moku.”
3. “E whai ana ahau i te *mahere* (plan) nui.”
4. “Kua whakaputa *whakatairanga* (advertisement) te kamupene.”
5. “Ma te *wharekai* (eatery) tatou ka whakatau.”
6. “E kai ana ahau i te *ika* (fish).”
7. “He *kura* (school) to matou.”
8. “E noho ana ahau ki te *taha* (side) o te awa.”
9. “E whakareri ana ahau i te *kakahu* (dress) mooi.”
10. “He *pai* (good) to whakaaro.”
11. “Ka whakarite ahau i te *hui* (meeting).”
12. “He *rongoa* (medicine) moku.”
13. “E tomo ana ahau ki te *waka* (vehicle).”
14. “Ko te *wharekai* (eatery) kei te tata ki te wharekur.”
15. “He *whare* (house) to matou kei te taha o te awa.”
Exercise 2: Fill in the blank with the correct indefinite article equivalent
1. “He *waa* (time) tau mo te whakataetae ano.”
2. “He *tangata* (person) kei mua i te mara.”
3. “Ma te *wharepaku* (toilet) ahau ka whakapau.”
4. “E hiahia ana ahau ki te *pukapuka* (book) hou.”
5. “He *whakaari* (show) nui kei te wharekura.”
6. “Ma te *whare* (house) to tatou.”
7. “E takatu ana ahau ki te *miihini* (machine).”
8. “He *hoa* (friend) pai te kotiro.”
9. “E whakarongo ana ahau ki te *waiata* (song).”
10. “He *ra* (day) pai.”
11. “Ka whakamahia te *wharepaku* (toilet) e nga kaimahi.”
12. “E noho ana ahau ki te *mara* (garden) nui.”
13. “He *tangata* (person) to tatou kei te wharekura.”
14. “E whai ana ahau i te *kaaraka* (schedule).”
15. “Kua whakarite *whakatairanga* (advertisement) te kamupene.”
2. “He *tangata* (person) kei mua i te mara.”
3. “Ma te *wharepaku* (toilet) ahau ka whakapau.”
4. “E hiahia ana ahau ki te *pukapuka* (book) hou.”
5. “He *whakaari* (show) nui kei te wharekura.”
6. “Ma te *whare* (house) to tatou.”
7. “E takatu ana ahau ki te *miihini* (machine).”
8. “He *hoa* (friend) pai te kotiro.”
9. “E whakarongo ana ahau ki te *waiata* (song).”
10. “He *ra* (day) pai.”
11. “Ka whakamahia te *wharepaku* (toilet) e nga kaimahi.”
12. “E noho ana ahau ki te *mara* (garden) nui.”
13. “He *tangata* (person) to tatou kei te wharekura.”
14. “E whai ana ahau i te *kaaraka* (schedule).”
15. “Kua whakarite *whakatairanga* (advertisement) te kamupene.”
