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The Article Theory is a fundamental aspect of Maori Grammar that focuses on the use of articles in the language. In Maori, the articles play an important role in indicating definiteness or indefiniteness of a noun phrase.
There are two main types of articles in Maori: the definite article “te” and the indefinite article “he”. The definite article, “te”, is used to refer to a specific noun or a noun that is known to the speaker and the listener. For example, “te whare” means “the house” referring to a specific house.
On the other hand, the indefinite article, “he”, is used to refer to a non-specific noun or to introduce a new element to the conversation. For example, “he pukapuka” means “a book” or “some book”, indicating a non-specific noun.
Furthermore, the articles in Maori also have grammatical properties such as case and number. They can change depending on the context and the function of the noun phrase in a sentence.
Understanding the Article Theory in Maori Grammar is essential for learners as it helps in sentence construction, conveying specific or non-specific information, and creating coherence in communication.
