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