In Maori grammar, Zero conditional or “Ture Tuku Korero” is often used to talk about general truths or facts that are always applicable. It can also be used to refer to situations that are always true if something particular happens. The Zero conditional is frequently expressed in the form: “if/when + present verb, present verb.” While the standard English structure is ‘if + present simple, .. present simple’, in Maori the tenses can vary.
Exercise 1: Introduction to Zero Conditional
1. Ki te hoki mai *koe*, ka whakaora ahau i te kai (you)
2. Mehemea he ra whakatā *tēnei*, ka whakatā ahau (this)
3. Ki te whakapau kaha ahau, ka whiwhi whanaketanga *ahau* (I)
4. Mehemea ka whakaae *rātou*, ka whakanui tatou (they)
5. Mehemea ka ua, ka whakarēhia e matou te wāhi mahi a *waho* (outside)
6. Mehemea ka wera *tātou*, ka kōrero matou (we)
7. Ki te *whakaae* koe, ka whakanui ahau (agree)
8. Mehemea ka makariri, ka whakakakahu koe i te *kakahu* korowai(wear’s)
9. Ki te āta whakarongo *ahau*, ka whakapai ahau i te reo (I)
10. Mehemea ka kī, ka whakamārama *ahau* (I)
11. Ki te *whakaoti* rātou i te mahi, ka whakanui rātou(they)
12. Mehemea ka whakarereke *koe*, ka whakararuraru koe(you)
13. Ki te whakaminenga, ka whakapai *rātou* i te whare (they)
14. Mehemea ka ohorere *rātou*, ka whakarereke ratou(they)
15. Ki te whakatupato koe, ka *whakarongo* rātou(listen)
2. Mehemea he ra whakatā *tēnei*, ka whakatā ahau (this)
3. Ki te whakapau kaha ahau, ka whiwhi whanaketanga *ahau* (I)
4. Mehemea ka whakaae *rātou*, ka whakanui tatou (they)
5. Mehemea ka ua, ka whakarēhia e matou te wāhi mahi a *waho* (outside)
6. Mehemea ka wera *tātou*, ka kōrero matou (we)
7. Ki te *whakaae* koe, ka whakanui ahau (agree)
8. Mehemea ka makariri, ka whakakakahu koe i te *kakahu* korowai(wear’s)
9. Ki te āta whakarongo *ahau*, ka whakapai ahau i te reo (I)
10. Mehemea ka kī, ka whakamārama *ahau* (I)
11. Ki te *whakaoti* rātou i te mahi, ka whakanui rātou(they)
12. Mehemea ka whakarereke *koe*, ka whakararuraru koe(you)
13. Ki te whakaminenga, ka whakapai *rātou* i te whare (they)
14. Mehemea ka ohorere *rātou*, ka whakarereke ratou(they)
15. Ki te whakatupato koe, ka *whakarongo* rātou(listen)
Exercise 2: Zero Conditional Practice
1. Mehemea ka whakakore *koe*, ka whakaweto ahau (you)
2. Ki te manawanui *koe*, ka whiwhi whanaketanga ahau(you)
3. Mehemea ka whakapau kaha *rātou*, ka whiwhi i te panoni (they)
4. Ki te whakaae *rātou*, ka whakawhanaungatanga rātou(they)
5. Mehemea ka whakatakoto koe i te *whakaaro*, ka whakaaro koe(thought)
6. Ki te *waiho* koe i te whare, ka whakaora koe(leave)
7. Ki te whakapono *ahau*, ka whakaute ahau(I)
8. Mehemea ka whakaae koe, ka whakanui *koe*(you)
9. Ki te korero, ka *whakarongo* rātou(listen)
10. Mehemea ka whakapau kaha *ahi*, ka whakapau kaha ahi (you)
11. Ki te whakakore koe, ka whakaweto *koe*(you)
12. Mehemea ka whakapono *rātou*, ka whakapai rātou(their)
13. Ki te whānau *koe*, ka whakapau kaha ahau (you)
14. Mehemea ka whakakore rātou, ka whawhai *rātou*(they)
15. Ki te whakatika *koe*, ka whakatikanui ahau(you)
2. Ki te manawanui *koe*, ka whiwhi whanaketanga ahau(you)
3. Mehemea ka whakapau kaha *rātou*, ka whiwhi i te panoni (they)
4. Ki te whakaae *rātou*, ka whakawhanaungatanga rātou(they)
5. Mehemea ka whakatakoto koe i te *whakaaro*, ka whakaaro koe(thought)
6. Ki te *waiho* koe i te whare, ka whakaora koe(leave)
7. Ki te whakapono *ahau*, ka whakaute ahau(I)
8. Mehemea ka whakaae koe, ka whakanui *koe*(you)
9. Ki te korero, ka *whakarongo* rātou(listen)
10. Mehemea ka whakapau kaha *ahi*, ka whakapau kaha ahi (you)
11. Ki te whakakore koe, ka whakaweto *koe*(you)
12. Mehemea ka whakapono *rātou*, ka whakapai rātou(their)
13. Ki te whānau *koe*, ka whakapau kaha ahau (you)
14. Mehemea ka whakakore rātou, ka whawhai *rātou*(they)
15. Ki te whakatika *koe*, ka whakatikanui ahau(you)
