Māori Grammar

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Don't talk like that!

pēnei, pēna, pēra

The words pēnei, pēnā and pērā mean "like this" or "like that.'

He aha i pēnei ai?
Why is it like this? (near me)

He aha i pēnā ai?
Why is it like that? (near you)

He aha i pērā ai?
Why is it like this? (over there)

Kei te mau hū au pērā i a Michael Jordan.
I am wearing shoes like Michael Jordan.

Nā te aha i pēnā ai?
For what reason is it like this?

Ki te ngaro te reo, ka ngaro tāua pērā i te moa.
If the language is lost, we are lost like that of the large extinct moa bird.

Me pēnei taku kōrero...
Let me tell you like this...

Kei te moe tonu pea, pērā i tō rāua pāpā.
They are probably still sleeping, just like their father.

Kei te pērā tonu au.
I'm unchanged.

E, kāti te kōrero pēnā mō taku mokopuna!
Hey, stop talking like that about my grandchild!

Nā te aha i pērā ai?
For what reason is it like that?

Ka waiata koe pērā i a Tui Teka.
You sing like Tui Teka.

Me pēnei.
(You should do it) like this.

Kei te pērā tonu hoki a muri i a ia.
Those behind him were doing the same.

I moe ia, pēnei tonu i a Tamahae nei.
He was asleep, just like Tamae here.

Kāore au i te pīrangi ki tētehi kai pērā i tēnei ata.
I do not want any food like that this morning.

Nā te aha i pēnei ai?
For what reason is it like this?

He aha koe i titiro tītaha pēnā mai ai?
Why do you always look sideways at me like that?

Nā te aha koe i titiro tītaha pērā mai ai?
What caused you to look sideways at me like that?

He pērā te āhua o Taika, he ngākau māhaki tōna.
Taika's nature is like that, he has a kind heart.

He pai ki a au ngā rangi pēnei, he ātaahua.
I like days like this - beautiful!