Māori Grammar
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Tērā is a determiner meaning “that thing over there”. Other determiners are tēnei (“this thing near me”) and tēnā (“that thing near you”).
The initial t is dropped in the plural forms: ērā (“those things over there”), ēnei (“those things near me”) and ēnā (“those things near you”).
An alternative structure, with the same meaning, is te...rā and ngā...rā.
Tērā mea.
That thing (over there).
Ērā mea.
Those things (over there).
Te mea rā.
That thing (over there).
Ngā mea rā.
Those things (over there).
He anuanu tērā kurī.
That dog's ugly.Ko tērā te manuhiri.
That's the guest.Te ātaahua hoki o tērā wahine!
How beautiful that woman is!Kāore au e pai ki te tae o tērā motoka.
I don't like the colour of that car.No te kuia tērā pōtae.
That hat belongs to the old lady.Ko Pita tērā kei te tapahi i te mīti.
That's Pita chopping the meat.He waka rererangi tērā.
That (over there) is a plane.He makariri tērā tī.
That tea is cold.Te tere hoki o tērā motopaika!
How fast that motorbike is!Te paruparu o tērā tangata!
What a dirty man.He kaiako tērā wahine.
That woman is a teacher.He aha tērā?
What is that (over there)?He mihi tērā ki te whānau whānui.
That is a greeting to the extended family.Ko tā rātou kurī tērā e auau ana.
That is their dog barking.He ara kino tērā?
Is that a bad road?He ātaahua tērā ngeru!
That's a beautiful cat!He kararehe nui tērā.
That's a big animal.He kārearea tērā.
That is a falcon.He tōtara tērā rākau.
That tree is a tōtara.I pānui a Toa i tērā pukapuka.
Toa read that book.He hātekēhi tērā koroua.
That old fellow is a hard case.He taraka miraka tērā.
That's a milk truck.He pūrotu tērā tāne.
That man is handsome.Kei te pīrangi ia ki tērā waka.
She wants that car.He whare nui tērā.
That (over there) is a big house.Ko Mia te kaikaranga o tērā hapū?
Is Mia the caller of that hapū?He kōwhai tērā rākou.
That tree is a kōwhai.He rawe tērā whakaaro, nē hā?
That is a great idea, eh?Kāore tērā kōrero i te tika.
That account is not correct.He pango tērā rēme.
That lamb is black.Kāhore kau he kākā kura o tērā pōkai.
That flock didn't have any red kākā.Tokomaha ngā tāngata o tērā iwi.
There are a lot of people in that tribe.