The present tense in Maori grammar is simple to understand and use. It is typically used to talk about what is happening now, what usually happens, and what is always true. The present tense in Maori is indicated primarily by the sentence structure. It does not require a specific verb form as in English. The key to understanding the present tense in Maori is to focus on sentence structure. Let’s practice this further with some exercises.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate Maori words
1. Kei *te whare* (house) ahau.
2. Kua whakatika *te ra* (sun).
3. E noho ana *te tamaiti* (child) i te whare.
4. E *haere* (go) ana ahau ki te whare pukapuka.
5. Kei *te kai* (eat) ahau.
6. E whakarongo ana ahau ki *te waiata* (music).
7. E *takatu* (prepare) ana ratau mo te hui.
8. Kei *te moe* (sleep) te kurī.
9. Kei te tiki ahau i *te pukapuka* (book) mai i te whare pukapuka.
10. He Aroha *to matou* (our) whare.
11. Kei *to ratou* (their) whare nga tamariki.
12. He *iti* (small) te whare.
13. Noho iho *te tamaiti* (child) i te whare.
14. Kei *te mahi* (work) taku whaea.
15. E *korero* (talk) ana ahau ki taku hoa.
2. Kua whakatika *te ra* (sun).
3. E noho ana *te tamaiti* (child) i te whare.
4. E *haere* (go) ana ahau ki te whare pukapuka.
5. Kei *te kai* (eat) ahau.
6. E whakarongo ana ahau ki *te waiata* (music).
7. E *takatu* (prepare) ana ratau mo te hui.
8. Kei *te moe* (sleep) te kurī.
9. Kei te tiki ahau i *te pukapuka* (book) mai i te whare pukapuka.
10. He Aroha *to matou* (our) whare.
11. Kei *to ratou* (their) whare nga tamariki.
12. He *iti* (small) te whare.
13. Noho iho *te tamaiti* (child) i te whare.
14. Kei *te mahi* (work) taku whaea.
15. E *korero* (talk) ana ahau ki taku hoa.
Exercise 2: Complete the sentences with the right Maori words
1. E *tatari* (wait) ana ahau mo taku hoa.
2. Kei *te pānui* (read) ahau i te nuinga o te wa.
3. E *whakakore* (refuse) ana ratou ki te whakarongo.
4. Kei *te whakarite* (arrange) ahau i aku mahi mo apopo.
5. E ako ana ahau i *te reo Maori* (Maori language).
6. He *mōkai* (pet) to matou kurī.
7. Kei *te waiho* (leave) ahau i taku pukapuka i te whare.
8. E *hoa* (friend) ana ahau i te kura.
9. E *tatari* (wait) ana ahau mo te pahi.
10. Kei te wehe ahau i *te kura* (school).
11. He tino *pai* (good) tenei whakaaturanga.
12. E *whakaatu* (show) ana ahau i taku whare ki taku hoa.
13. E *whakaaro* (think) ana ahau ki te hoko whare hou.
14. Kei *te whakahoki* (return) ahau i te pukapuka ki te whare pukapuka.
15. He *tino ataahua* (very beautiful) to ratou whare.
2. Kei *te pānui* (read) ahau i te nuinga o te wa.
3. E *whakakore* (refuse) ana ratou ki te whakarongo.
4. Kei *te whakarite* (arrange) ahau i aku mahi mo apopo.
5. E ako ana ahau i *te reo Maori* (Maori language).
6. He *mōkai* (pet) to matou kurī.
7. Kei *te waiho* (leave) ahau i taku pukapuka i te whare.
8. E *hoa* (friend) ana ahau i te kura.
9. E *tatari* (wait) ana ahau mo te pahi.
10. Kei te wehe ahau i *te kura* (school).
11. He tino *pai* (good) tenei whakaaturanga.
12. E *whakaatu* (show) ana ahau i taku whare ki taku hoa.
13. E *whakaaro* (think) ana ahau ki te hoko whare hou.
14. Kei *te whakahoki* (return) ahau i te pukapuka ki te whare pukapuka.
15. He *tino ataahua* (very beautiful) to ratou whare.
