In Maori grammar, differentiating between past and future tenses is crucial. The past tense is typically denoted by the particle ‘i’, while ‘Ka’ is a common way of expressing future tense. Therefore, in order to construct sentences referring to past events, the word ‘i’ is used before the verb. For future events, ‘ka’ is used. It’s important for students learning Maori to master these particles to clearly express time in their communication.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with the correct past tense particle normally used before a verb.
1. *I* whakarongo ahau ki te waiata. (I – past)
2. Kua *i* hoko tatou i te whare. (I – past)
3. *I* kai ahau i te kina. (I – past)
4. *I* whakapaua taku moni e ahau. (I – past)
5. *I* whakatika ahau i te moenga. (I – past)
6. *I* korero matou mō te ahiahi. (I – past)
7. *I* whakararuraru ahau. (I – past)
8. *I* whakaae ratou ki te mahere. (I – past)
9. *I* whānau mai ahau i Whanganui. (I – past)
10. *I* whakahoki paraihe ahau. (I – past)
11. *I* whakakore au kia hoki ki te kāinga. (I – past)
12. *I* whakanoho ahau i te kāinga. (I – past)
13. *I* whakatūruru ahau i tēnei kaupapa. (I – past)
14. *I* pānui ahau i te pukapuka. (I – past)
15. *I* whakapā ahau ki te kaiako. (I – past)
2. Kua *i* hoko tatou i te whare. (I – past)
3. *I* kai ahau i te kina. (I – past)
4. *I* whakapaua taku moni e ahau. (I – past)
5. *I* whakatika ahau i te moenga. (I – past)
6. *I* korero matou mō te ahiahi. (I – past)
7. *I* whakararuraru ahau. (I – past)
8. *I* whakaae ratou ki te mahere. (I – past)
9. *I* whānau mai ahau i Whanganui. (I – past)
10. *I* whakahoki paraihe ahau. (I – past)
11. *I* whakakore au kia hoki ki te kāinga. (I – past)
12. *I* whakanoho ahau i te kāinga. (I – past)
13. *I* whakatūruru ahau i tēnei kaupapa. (I – past)
14. *I* pānui ahau i te pukapuka. (I – past)
15. *I* whakapā ahau ki te kaiako. (I – past)
Exercise 2: Fill in the blank with the correct future tense particle normally used before a verb.
1. *Ka* hoko ahau i te taraka. (Ka – future)
2. *Ka* whakarite ahau i te hui. (Ka – future)
3. *Ka* whakarongo ahau ki te korero. (Ka – future)
4. *Ka* whakahaere matou i te kēmu. (Ka – future)
5. *Ka* pau te whānuitanga o te akanuitanga. (Ka – future)
6. *Ka* whakanoho ahau ki te whare. (Ka – future)
7. *Ka* whakakore e taea te herehere. (Ka – future)
8. *Ka* whakah3e koe i nga Ra whakapuare. (Ka – future)
9. *Ka* hoko ahau i te kōhao. (Ka – future)
10. *Ka* whakakore e matehuna tōna hinenga. (Ka – future)
11. *Ka* whakakii i te pitihana. (Ka – future)
12. *Ka* whakakore e hoki ki waho. (Ka – future)
13. *Ka* whakakore e whakapau kaha ki te kite i a koe. (Ka – future)
14. *Ka* whakawhirinaki ahau ki a koe. (Ka – future)
15. *Ka* aroha ahau ki a koe. (Ka – future)
2. *Ka* whakarite ahau i te hui. (Ka – future)
3. *Ka* whakarongo ahau ki te korero. (Ka – future)
4. *Ka* whakahaere matou i te kēmu. (Ka – future)
5. *Ka* pau te whānuitanga o te akanuitanga. (Ka – future)
6. *Ka* whakanoho ahau ki te whare. (Ka – future)
7. *Ka* whakakore e taea te herehere. (Ka – future)
8. *Ka* whakah3e koe i nga Ra whakapuare. (Ka – future)
9. *Ka* hoko ahau i te kōhao. (Ka – future)
10. *Ka* whakakore e matehuna tōna hinenga. (Ka – future)
11. *Ka* whakakii i te pitihana. (Ka – future)
12. *Ka* whakakore e hoki ki waho. (Ka – future)
13. *Ka* whakakore e whakapau kaha ki te kite i a koe. (Ka – future)
14. *Ka* whakawhirinaki ahau ki a koe. (Ka – future)
15. *Ka* aroha ahau ki a koe. (Ka – future)
