Māori Grammar

PreviousBack Next
Te Reo Māori Level 3
Why did? - He aha... i... ai?

Six types of why questions.

1. Why did something happen in the past?

He aha [who] i [verb] ai?

He aha koe i haere ai?
Why did you go?

He aha ai?
Why?

He aha koe i haere ai ki te taone?
Why did you go to town?

Ko tēnea tangata te rōia?
Which person is the lawyer?

He aha koe i tae tōmuri ai i tēnei rā?
Why did you arrive late today?

Ko te Rāpare tēnei rā?
Is it Thursday today?

Ko te aha?
What?

He aha rātou i peka ai ki taua marae?
Why did they visit that marae?

He aha a Tawa i kore ai e tū ki te whakatau i ngā manuhiri?
Why didn't Tawa get up to greet the guests?

Ko te aha te wā?
What's the time?

He aha koe i haere ai?
Why did you go?

Ko te aha kei te tukituki ki te wini?
What is banging against the window?

Ko te aha te ingoa o te kamupene?
What is the name of the business?

Ko te aha tō tino kiriata?
What is your favourite movie?

He aha a Nikau i kōrero pēnā ai?
Why did Nikau say it like that?

He aha ngā tamariki i hoki ai ki te kāinga?
Why did the kids return home?

He aha koe e pēnā ai?
Why are you like that?

Ko te aha tēnei rā?
What day is it?

Ko te aha tēnei?
What is this thing?

He aha koe i kore ai e haere?
Why didn't you go?

He aha koe i tōmuri ai?
Why are you late?

He aha a Mere i hoki mai ai?
Why did Mere come back?

He aha ia i kata ai?
Why did she laugh?

He aha taku motokā i pakaru ai?
Why did my car break down?

He aha ō kākahu i paru ai?
Why are your clothes dirty?

He aha a Tame i haere ai ki Hawai'i?
Why did Tame go to Hawai'ī?

He aha rāua i mārena ai?
Why did those two get married?