Māori Grammar

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To like - rata

The verb rata is to like. It takes ki, as does aroha:

Kei te rata ahau ki a ia.
I like him.

Rata can also be used with tino to say that someone really likes something or someone:

Ka tino rata ia ki te keke.
He really likes cake.
 

Kāore ia i rata mai ki tōku pōtae hou.
She didn't like my new hat.

Kāore au e rata ki te tahitahi papa, he hōhā.
I don't like sweeping the floor, it's annoying.

E rata ana a Pāpā ki te mātakitaki pouaka whakaata.
Pāpā likes to watch television.

Ko wai e rata ana ki te kāngarere?
Who likes cornflakes?

E tino rata ana au ki te iwi o reira.
I really like the people from there.

E rata ana au ki a ia. He tangata pai.
I like him. He's a good fella.

Kāore au e rata ki tēnā kaihe kawa ki taku korokoro.
I don’t like that food – I find it unpleasant.

Ka tino rata ia ki te keke ka tunua ki te kāinga.
They really like the cake that is baked at home.

E rata ana au ki te tiakarete.
I like chocolate.

Kāore te iwi i rata ki ētahi o ngā kupu hou a Te Taura Whiri.
People didn't like some of the new words Te Taura Whiri coined.

Ko wai e rata ana ki ngā tikanga hou nei?
Who likes these new procedures?

Kāore au e rata ki tēnā kai - he kawa ki taku korokoro.
I don't like that food - I find it unpleasant.

Kāore au e rata ki te kai a te ngeru, he haunga.
I don't like cat food, it stinks.