Māori Grammar

PreviousBack Next
Te Reo Māori Level 2
Direction markers with adverbs - tonu mai, kā atu, rawa mai...

The directional markers are mai ("towards the subject or the speaker"),  atu ("away from the subject or the speaker"), ake ("up from the subject or the speaker") and iho ("down from the subject or the speaker").

In some sentences, an adverb (tonu, rawa, anō and hoki) are added to these directional markers. In three cases, the adverb is added after the directional marker:

Tae tonu mai te ope ki konei, ka eke ki te marae.
As soon as the party got here, they went to the marae.

kē atu tērā maunga.
That mountain stands apart.

Whānau rawa mai te tamaiti.
At least, the child was born.

In two situations, the adverb is added before the direction marker:

Kōrero mai anō, a Hera.
Tell me again, Hera.

Ka rere iho te tīwaiwaka, rere iho hoki tana hoa.
The fantail flew down, and so did her mate.

 

Auē! E haere tonu mai ana te pūru!
Oh! The bull is still coming!

Ka rere iho te tīwaiwaka, rere iho hoki tana hoa.
The fantail flew down, and so did her mate.

He poto rawa atu ngā kōrero nei.
These stories are extremely short.

Whānau rawa mai te tamaiti.
At least, the child was born.

Kua ora mai anō ōna mātua.
His parents have got well again.

Kōrero mai anō.
Say that again.

Tae rawa atu, kātahi tonu ia ka haere.
When we arrived, he had just left.

Kua ora mai anō te tamaiti.
The child is well again.

Me Ponga i hoki mai anō mā te tatau ōna i puta atu ai.
And Ponga came back in by the same door he had left by.

Kei te ora rawa atu au.
I'm extremely well.

He kōrero hōhonu kē atu.
A deeper talk.

Kōrero mai anō? Āta kōrero.
Can you repeat that please? Slowly please.

Kia ahatia, ka hoki mai anō.
No worries, it will come back.

Haere tonu rāua, me te whai atu anō a Ponga i muri tata.
They went on with Ponga following close behind.

Tū kē atu tērā maunga.
That mountain stands apart.

He kōrero hōhonu rawa atu.
An extremely deep talk.

Kei te tino pai rawa atu māua i nāianei.
We are really good now.

Tae tonu mai te ope ki konei, ka eke ki te marae.
As soon as the party got here, they went to the marae.

Ka heare tonu atu nei ahau.
I'll go right now.

Āe, me haere kē atu au.
Yes, I'll go.

Me kōrero mai anō koe.
You'd better speak to me again.

Pā tonu mai te karanga, ke whakaeke te ope.
As soon as they heard the call, the party went onto the marae.

Kōrero mai anō, a Niko.
Tell me again, Niko.

I ngā huihuinga ka noho mai ia tika tonu mai i ahau.
He sits opposite me in meetings.

Tokohia kē mai nei ngā tāngata e tae mai ana mō te kai!
What a lot of people are arriving for the food!

Kaua rawa atu koe e hoko i tēnā pōtae.
You mustn't buy that hat.

Kei te hiainu rawa atu au.
I'm extremely thirsty.

Ka piki puku atu hoki a Ponga i muri i a ia.
Ponga also climbed up silently behind her.