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The past tense is indicated by using the tense marker i te:
I te oma au.
I was running.
This can also be used as a locative, to indicate where something was. For example:
I te kura ia.
She was at school.
This is very similar to the use of kei as a locative, saying where someone or something is at the moment:
Kei te kura ia.
She is at school.
I te taha o te awa aua mea.
They were beside the river.I raro i te tēpu.
Under the table.I te kāinga ahau ināpō.
I was at home last night.I runga te pene i te tēpu.
The pen was on the table.I te waka rā, he tāne kau.
In the canoe, there was just a man (or: "there were just men").I a rāua te waka i te ata nei.
They had it this morning.I taua wāhi te marae.
The marae was at that place.I tōku tari au.
I was in my office.I roto i te wharepaku a Hine.
Hine was in the bathroom.I Ingarangi koe?
Were you in England?I muri i te whare te motokā.
The car was behind the house.I te kura ia.
She was at school.I te whare pikitia.
At the pictures.I taku whaea ngā tamariki.
The children were with my mother.I te taha katau o te waka te kurī.
The dog was to the right of the car.I reira te waka.
The car was there.I konei te toa.
The shop used to be here.I konei te toa.
The shop used to be here.I runga ake i te maunga ngā manu.
The birds were above the mountain.I te ara haere atu i Waiuku ki Te Maioro.
On the path from Waiuku to Te Maioro.I a Hōne ngā kī inapō.
Hōne had the keys last night.I runga ake te kapu i te tēpu.
The cup was above the table.I roto i te pouaka ngā āporo.
The apples were in the box.I runga i te tēpu.
On the table.I roto i te whare ngā pukapuka.
The books were inside the house.I tōku tari au.
I was in my office.I raro te ngeru i te tūru.
The cat was under the chair.I raro i te rākau a Rangi.
Rangi was under the tree.I runga i te tūru te pukapuka.
The book was on the chair.I mua i te kuaha ngā tamariki.
The children were in front of the door.I muri tēnei pukapuka i te tūru.
This book was behind the chair.I runga i te taraka.
On the truck.I runga i te ara te motokā.
The car was on the road.I hea te pene?
Where was the pen?I konei tonu.
It was right here.I Disneyland au!
I was in Disneyland!I te marae, he aha te mahi a ngā koroua?
At the marae, what is the work of the elders?I te tepu.
It was on the table.I te taha mauī o te tēpu te ngeru.
The cat was to the left of the table.