Quantitative adjectives in Maori grammar are words that describe the quantity of something. They can refer to the number of items, the size of a group, or the extent of a certain quality or characteristic. In Maori, quantitative adjectives often come after the noun they are describing. This is the opposite of English, where adjectives usually come before the noun. For example, the Maori phrase “tangata tokoiti” translates to “few people” in English. Note the positioning of the adjective “tokoiti” (few) after the noun “tangata” (people).
Exercise 1: Quantitative Adjectives
1. Kua whakapau *kaha* koe i te mahi. (Strength)
2. Ka whakatuwhera ahau i te *tatau* mo koutou. (Door)
3. Kua whakakii e au te *ipu* ki te wai. (Cup)
4. Nga *tamariki* nui kua whakatika ki te wharekura. (Children)
5. Kei te whai *whare* tino nui ahau. (House)
6. Kua whanti te *rakau* i te whaiti. (Branch)
7. Kua *mate* te kuri i te haua. (Die)
8. Kei te tahuri ahau ki te *hoko* i etahi whare. (Buy)
9. Kua kohikohi *tahae* ahau i te whare wera. (Theft)
10. E kore e whakapau *moni* ahau i taua whare. (Money)
11. He wa *teitei* kua whakakii i te ipu. (Long)
12. He wa *roa* i te haukainga. (Long)
13. He *kehu* ahau i te whare. (Redhead)
14. Kua whakakakahu ahau i te *kakahu* ma. (Clothes)
15. E kore e whakapau *wa* ahau ki te hoko kakahu hou. (Time)
2. Ka whakatuwhera ahau i te *tatau* mo koutou. (Door)
3. Kua whakakii e au te *ipu* ki te wai. (Cup)
4. Nga *tamariki* nui kua whakatika ki te wharekura. (Children)
5. Kei te whai *whare* tino nui ahau. (House)
6. Kua whanti te *rakau* i te whaiti. (Branch)
7. Kua *mate* te kuri i te haua. (Die)
8. Kei te tahuri ahau ki te *hoko* i etahi whare. (Buy)
9. Kua kohikohi *tahae* ahau i te whare wera. (Theft)
10. E kore e whakapau *moni* ahau i taua whare. (Money)
11. He wa *teitei* kua whakakii i te ipu. (Long)
12. He wa *roa* i te haukainga. (Long)
13. He *kehu* ahau i te whare. (Redhead)
14. Kua whakakakahu ahau i te *kakahu* ma. (Clothes)
15. E kore e whakapau *wa* ahau ki te hoko kakahu hou. (Time)
Exercise 2: Quantitative Adjectives
1. He *toru* nga whare i roto i te whare. (Three)
2. Ka *noho* koe i a maatau i te ra whakata. (Stay)
3. Kua whakakii e au te *ripi* ki te wai. (Jug)
4. Kua *tuku* taku potae i te ahiahi. (Put)
5. He *nui* nga tamariki i te whare kura. (Many)
6. Kua *whakakore* koe i te wai i te whare. (Not)
7. E *tatari* koe i te taha o te kainga. (Wait)
8. Kei *muri* te whare o te kura. (Behind)
9. Kua *whakakore* whare i roto i te whare. (Not)
10. He wa *itiii* e whakatika ana koe i te whare. (Brief)
11. E *tahuri* tatou ki te mahau o te whare. (Turn)
12. Kua *whakawatea* tatou i te whare. (Move)
13. E *tahuri* koe i te kohatu o te whare. (Turn)
14. Kei *mua* te whare o te kura. (Front)
15. E *piiri* koe i te korowai o te whare. (Attach)
2. Ka *noho* koe i a maatau i te ra whakata. (Stay)
3. Kua whakakii e au te *ripi* ki te wai. (Jug)
4. Kua *tuku* taku potae i te ahiahi. (Put)
5. He *nui* nga tamariki i te whare kura. (Many)
6. Kua *whakakore* koe i te wai i te whare. (Not)
7. E *tatari* koe i te taha o te kainga. (Wait)
8. Kei *muri* te whare o te kura. (Behind)
9. Kua *whakakore* whare i roto i te whare. (Not)
10. He wa *itiii* e whakatika ana koe i te whare. (Brief)
11. E *tahuri* tatou ki te mahau o te whare. (Turn)
12. Kua *whakawatea* tatou i te whare. (Move)
13. E *tahuri* koe i te kohatu o te whare. (Turn)
14. Kei *mua* te whare o te kura. (Front)
15. E *piiri* koe i te korowai o te whare. (Attach)
