Māori Grammar

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Te Reo Māori Level 1
Simple sentences: present tense - e... ana

Sentences in the present tense often use kei te:

Kei te haere au.
I am going.

This can also be expressed with the tense marker e... ana...:

E haere ana au.
I am going.

This is different from other tense markers in that the verb (in this case, haere) comes between the two words e and ana instead of after them, as in kei te.

Also, e... ana... can be be used to indicate action in the past or in the future as well as the present:

E haere ana au.
I am going.
I was going.
I will be going.

Whether it is past, present or future, e... ana... relates to continious action ("I was going" rather than "I went" or "I will be going" rather than "I will go").

E whiti ana te ki Kaikohe.
The sun is shining in Kaikohe.

E ua ana ki waho.
It's raining outside.

E ua ana te ua.
It is raining (lit: "the rain is raining").

E hoki ana ia ki te kani.
He was returning to the saw.

E mau ana mātou i te wahie i te rori ki te whare.
We are carrying the firewood from the road to the house.

E kīia ana te kōrero...
The saying goes...

E whaikōrero ana te koroua.
The elderly man is making a speech.

E hiahia ana ahau ki te ako i te reo Māori.
I want to learn Māori.

E tika ana te kōrero.
The statement is correct.

E whakarongo ana māua ko Paora ki te tumuaki.
Paora and I are listening to the head-master.

E paru ana ana ringa.
He has dirty hands.

E haka ana te iwi whenua i te haka.
The local people were performing the haka.

E whana ana te tama i te pōro.
The boy is kicking the ball.

E kōrero ana ia ki ngā tamariki.
He is talking to the children.

E kata ana a Kauri.
Kauri is laughing.

E pīrangi ana ahau ki te hoki ti Taupō.
I want to return to Taupō.

E mōhio ana au ki ana kupu.
I am knowing what her words mean.

E tono ana ia kia haere ia ki te whakatā.
He is requesting to go for a break.

E mārama ana au ki te kōrero.
I understand what is being said.

E whakapono ana ia ki te Atua.
She believes in God.

E hīkoi ana rātou ki te tūnga pahi.
They're walking to the bus stop.

E mōhio ana au ki te tangata e kōrero koe.
I know the person you're talking about.

E kauhoe ana ia ki te moutere.
She is going to swim to the island.

E noho ana au i te rohe o Pōneke.
I am living in the Wellington region.

E rapu ana ia i tētahi rangimarietanga.
He's looking for peace of mind.

E kōrero ana ngā wāhine.
The women are talking.

E whiri ana au i tētahi kōnae.
I am braiding a food basket.

E kimi ana a Manu i tāna waea pūkoro.
Manu is searching for his cell phone.

E noho ana mātou i Kawakawa.
We were living in Kawakawa.

E whāngai ana a Hera i te kurī.
Hera is feeding the dog.

E kōwhiti ana te tamaiti i ngā kuku.
The mussels are being shelled by that child by you.

E pēhea ana tērā tāne pai?
How is that good man?

E mātakitaki ana rātou i te netipāora.
They are watching the netball.

E mōhio ana koe ki te kaukau?
Are you knowing how to swim?

E kimi ana a Manu i tāna waea pūkoro.
Manu is searching for his cell phone.

E moe ana au i tētahi rākau kākāriki.
I am sleeping in a green tree.

E kauhoe ana ia ki te motu.
She is going to swim to the island.

E waiata ana māua i te hui.
We (me and one other person) are singing at the gathering.

E kai ana te kurī i te kai.
The dog is eating the food.

E more ana a Hine.
Hine is sleeping.

E pīrangi ana koe ki tēnei hāte kōwhai?
Are you wanting this yellow t-shirt?

E haere ana mātou ki te one.
We are going to the beach.

E maumahara ana ahau ki taku tino matukutanga.
I am remembering being very frightened.

E inu ana ia i te kapu wai.
She is drinking a cup of water.

E titiro ana te tauhou ki ahau.
The stranger was looking at me.

E hiahia pukapuka ana ahau.
I want a book.

E āwhina ana a Tame i a Rangi.
Tame is helping Rangi.

E pīrangi ana ahau ki te āporo .
I am wanting that apple.

E mohio ana au ki ana kupu.
I know what her words mean.

E whai ana ngā tamariki i te pōro.
The children are chasing the ball.

E kai ana ngā tamariki i te hapa.
The children are eating dinner.

E mauāhara ana a Manu ki a Pāora.
Manu is holding a grudge against Pāora.

E āwhina ana ahai i a ia.
I am helping him.

E ake ana ia ki te marae.
He is standing up on the marae.

E kai ana te pēpi i ngā rīwai.
The baby is eating the potatoes.

E hui ana te kōmihana o te Taura Whiri ia marama te rua .
The Māori Language Commission meets each month for two days.

E whai ana ngā tamariki i te pōro.
The children are chasing the ball.

E haere mai ana te ope ki runga i te marae.
That group over there is coming onto the marae.

E waiata ana rātou.
They are singing.

E haere ana mātou ki Wānaka ā tērā wiki.
We are going to Wānaka next week.

E kōrero ana a Hemi ki te kaiako.
Hemi is talking to the teacher.

E kai ana ngā tamariki i ngā āporo.
The children are eating the apples.

E haere ana koe ki hea?
Where are you going now?

E noho ana au i te rohe o Pōneke.
I am living in the Wellington area.

E ana te tamaiti tāne.
The boy is standing.

E mātaki-kiriata ana mātou.
We're movie-watching.

E rerere ana te manu i runga tata iho i te ngata.
The bird is hovering just above the snail.

E ana te whare.
The house is standing.

Kāore au e ako ana i te reo Māori.
I am not learning the Māori language.

E whakakākahuana ia i a ia anō ki ōna kākahu tino pai.
He's getting himself dressed in his best clothes.

E oma ana ngā tamariki ki te kura.
The children are running to school.

E mātakitaki ana te ngeru ki te manu.
The cat is watching the bird.

E tākaro ana rāua i te papa tākaro.
They (two people) are playing at the playground.

E kimi ana te ngeru ki te kiore.
The cat is searching for the mouse.

E mātakitaki pouaka whakaata ana a Honi.
Honi is television watching.

E paki ana.
It is sunny.

E aroha ana ahau ki a Tawa.
I love Tawa.

E ana tāna.
What she/he said was incorrect.

E kihi ana a Rangi kāua ko Kauri.
Rangi and Kauri are kissing.

E hiahia ana ia ki te haere ki tāwāhi.
Do you want to go to.

E kata hoki ana a Niko.
Niko is also laughing.

E whakatipua ana te pātītī e Papa--ā-nuku.
The grass is being grown by Papa-tū-ā-nuku.

E ua ana.
It is raining.

E heke ana te hukarere.
The snow is falling.

E tatari ana au ki te rārangi kia hoko ai i ōku .
I am waiting in the queue to pay for my shoes.

E rere ake ana te manu ki te kōmata o te rākau.
The bird is flying to the top of the tree.

E haere ana au ki te rūma horoi hīrere ai.
I'm going to the bathroom for a shower.

E pīrangi ana a Hana ki tēnā aihikirimi.
Hana desires/wants that icecream by you.

E haere ana koe ki te kura āpōpō.
You're going to school tomorrow.

E pīrangi ana a Koa ki tēnā aihikirimi.
Koa is wanting that icecream by you.

E pānui ana te tama i te pukapuka.
The boy is reading the book.

E mahi ana ia i Pōneke.
She works in Wellington.

E haere atu ana au ki .
I'm going over there.

E pīrangi ana a Māui ki tēnā aihikirimi.
Māui desires/wants that icecream by you.

E moe ana te paruauru i roto i te wharau.
The gardener is sleeping in the shed.

E mahi ana au i te hōhipera.
I work at the hospital.

E mōhio ana ahau ki te kaukau.
I am knowing how to swim.

E haere ana a Mia.
Mia is going.

E kauhoe ana te hoiho i te moana.
The yellow-eyed penguin is swimming in the sea.

E waiata ana ngā tamariki.
The children are (or were) singing.

E tika ana me ki te mihi atu ki a koe.
It is appropriate to stand and acknowledge you..

E ana te waka ki te huarahi.
The car is parked on the road.

E ana ia ki mua i Te Rōpū Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi.
He is standing in front of the Treaty of Waitangi.

E kaingākau ana ia ki tana mokopuna ki a Tīwana.
She is very fond of her grandchild, Tīwana.

E titiro ana te tauhou ki a au.
The stranger was looking at me.

E titiro ana a Hēmi.
Hēmi is looking.

E kauhoe ana rātou i ngā ngaru.
They are swimming in the waves.

E haere ana ngā tamariki katoa ki waho.
All of the children are going outside.

E maumahara ana ahau ki rāua arunga e te kurī .
I remember them being chased by that dog.

E ako ana au ki te raranga harakeke.
I am learning to weave flax.

E hiahia ana au ki tērā kākahu kahurangi.
I want that blue dress.

E pōuto ana ia i te rākau .
He is chopping down the treee.

E haere ana koe ki te kura āpōpō.
You're going to school tomorrow.

E haere ana mātou ki te one āpōpō.
We are going to the beach tomorrow.

E horoi ana a Niko i a ia.
Niko is washing himself.

E tātaku ana tērā i ngā kauhau o nehe, me te kōrero i ngā mahi a ngā tūpuna i mahia i tēnei taha.
They recited the old recitations from ancient times, and talked about the deeds of the ancestors.

E kōrero ana au ki a ia.
I am speaking to her.

E moe ana te kuia .
The old lady is speaking.

E huna ana te pūngāwerewere i roto i te pouaka rēta.
The spider is hiding in the letterbox.

E hui ana te kōmihana ia marama te rua .
The Commission meets for two days in each month.

E whakarongo ana ngā pirihimana ki te tangata.
The policemen are listening to the person.

E haere ana tātou ki te hui raranga.
We are going to the weaving meeting.

E whakapono ana au ki a koe.
I am believing in you.

E hui ana a Rama rāua ko Pita ki te pātaka kōrero.
Rama and Pita are meeting in the library.

E pēhea ana koutou?
How are you all now?

E pēhea ana tērā kerēwatiki?
How is that clever dickie?

E haere ana tātou ki te toa āpōpō.
We will be going to the store tomorrow.

E haere ana ngā wāhine ki te toa.
The women are going to the shop.

E whakatā ana tāua i te ngahere.
We (you and I) are resting in the forest.

E kāia ana hoki he tino toa koe ki taua mahi.
It is also said that you were a real champion at that job.

E tata ana ia ki te matapihi ka haere tonu ia ki te kūaha.
Being near the window, she walked to the door.

E moe ana te pēpi.
The baby is sleeping.

E haere ana au ki te mahi.
I am going to work.

E kihi ana ia i tātahi ngeru pango.
She is kissing a black cat.

E tika ana kia mihi au ki a koe me whānau i tēnei pōuri.
It is appropriate for me to greet you and your family at this sad time.

E tunu ana a Mere i te kai.
Mere is cooking the food.

E mataku ana ia ki a au?
Is she afraid of me?

E titiro tonu ana aku whatu, ka whakairia oratia.
My eyes were still open and yet you suspended me alive.

E mea ana koe ko Ponga hei ariki mōu?
Are you saying that Pongo is to be your lord?

E pōwhiri ana rātou ki a mātou.
They are welcoming us.

E kihi ana ia i tētahi ngeru pango.
She is kissing a black cat.

E māngere ana ngā tamariki i te pouaka whakaata.
The television is making the children lazy.

E whakamutu ana ia i tana horonga.
She is finishing the washing.

E mōhio ana ia he porotaka te ao.
He knows that the earth is round.

E haere ana ia ki te whakarongo.
He is listening.

E tangi haere mai ana te ope.
The group are weeping as they come.

E whiti ana te .
The sun is shining.

E puta ana ngā tamariki katoa ki waho.
All of the children are going outside.

E hiahia ana ia ki te kani.
He wanted the saw.

E takoto ana rāua.
They're lying down.

E tapahi ana ia ki te kani.
He was cutting with the saw.

E pōwhiri ana rātou ki a mātou.
They are welcoming us.

E whakamārama ana te kaiako i te mahi ki ngā tamariki.
The teacher is explaining the work to the children.

E tae katoa mai ana ngā manuhiri.
All the visitors are arriving.