Possessives in Maori grammar are a critical aspect of the language, constructing relationships between nouns. They are used to indicate ownership or association, similar to the use of possessive pronouns in English such as “my”, “your”, or “his/her”. In Maori, the possessives are often attached to the noun they modify, and also require agreement in plurality.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank with Appropriate Possessive
1. Ka whakahawea ratou i *taku* whare. (My)
2. I aha koe i *tana* pukapuka? (His/Her)
3. He pai te kai a *rātou*. (Their)
4. Nō *mātou* te whenua nei. (Our)
5. Ka waiho *tō* potae ki hea? (Your)
6. Ka whakaaro ahau kei *tōna* waka. (His/Her)
7. Nō *ōna* tamariki te kēmu. (His/Her)
8. *Tāku* whaea kei te whare. (My)
9. Kei *tōku* mātāmua te whare iti. (My)
10. He rite *to* īnanga ki te kōura. (Your)
11. Ka mahi a Molly i *tāna* whare. (Her)
12. Kei te whare a *rātou* te whare. (Their)
13. Ka whakaritea e koe *tātou* hui. (Our)
14. Kei te whare a *kōrua* te tēpu. (Your)
15. Nō *ōku* hoa te whare nui. (My)
2. I aha koe i *tana* pukapuka? (His/Her)
3. He pai te kai a *rātou*. (Their)
4. Nō *mātou* te whenua nei. (Our)
5. Ka waiho *tō* potae ki hea? (Your)
6. Ka whakaaro ahau kei *tōna* waka. (His/Her)
7. Nō *ōna* tamariki te kēmu. (His/Her)
8. *Tāku* whaea kei te whare. (My)
9. Kei *tōku* mātāmua te whare iti. (My)
10. He rite *to* īnanga ki te kōura. (Your)
11. Ka mahi a Molly i *tāna* whare. (Her)
12. Kei te whare a *rātou* te whare. (Their)
13. Ka whakaritea e koe *tātou* hui. (Our)
14. Kei te whare a *kōrua* te tēpu. (Your)
15. Nō *ōku* hoa te whare nui. (My)
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blank with Appropriate Possessive
1. Ka whakarongo ahau ki *tōku* waiata. (My)
2. Ka whakakī a Sarah i *tana* kapu. (Her)
3. He roa *tō* rererangi. (Your)
4. Nō *ōku* whanaunga te whare nui. (My)
5. Ka whakatika a John i *ōna* takatu. (His)
6. Ka whakakore a Emily i *tana* kēmu. (Her)
7. I hoko *tātou* whare. (Our)
8. He tino kaha *rātou* tūmanako. (Their)
9. E whakaaro ana ahau kei *tōna* motokā. (His/Her)
10. Ka whakakōrero a Tim i *tana* korero. (His)
11. *Tāku* koro kei te whare. (My)
12. Ka whakanui *tātou* toro atu. (Our)
13. He tino pai *tō* kotiro. (Your)
14. *Tōku* tuahine kei te waiata. (My)
15. Ka whakapau kaha a Paul i *ōna* mahi. (His)
2. Ka whakakī a Sarah i *tana* kapu. (Her)
3. He roa *tō* rererangi. (Your)
4. Nō *ōku* whanaunga te whare nui. (My)
5. Ka whakatika a John i *ōna* takatu. (His)
6. Ka whakakore a Emily i *tana* kēmu. (Her)
7. I hoko *tātou* whare. (Our)
8. He tino kaha *rātou* tūmanako. (Their)
9. E whakaaro ana ahau kei *tōna* motokā. (His/Her)
10. Ka whakakōrero a Tim i *tana* korero. (His)
11. *Tāku* koro kei te whare. (My)
12. Ka whakanui *tātou* toro atu. (Our)
13. He tino pai *tō* kotiro. (Your)
14. *Tōku* tuahine kei te waiata. (My)
15. Ka whakapau kaha a Paul i *ōna* mahi. (His)
