Māori Grammar

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Te Reo Māori Level 1
Simple sentences: present tense - e... ana

Sentences in the present tense often use kei te:

Kei te haere au.
I am going.

This can also be expressed with the tense marker e... ana...:

E haere ana au.
I am going.

This is different from other tense markers in that the verb (in this case, haere) comes between the two words e and ana instead of after them, as in kei te.

Also, e... ana... can be be used to indicate action in the past or in the future as well as the present:

E haere ana au.
I am going.
I was going.
I will be going.

Whether it is past, present or future, e... ana... relates to continious action ("I was going" rather than "I went" or "I will be going" rather than "I will go").

E kāia ana hoki he tino toa koe ki taua mahi.
It is also said that you were a real champion at that job.

E whiti ana te ki Kaikohe.
The sun is shining in Kaikohe.

E kihi ana ia i tētahi ngeru pango.
She is kissing a black cat.

E pīrangi ana koe ki tēnei hāte kōwhai?
Are you wanting this yellow t-shirt?

E kauhoe ana rātou i ngā ngaru.
They are swimming in the waves.

E kauhoe ana te hoiho i te moana.
The yellow-eyed penguin is swimming in the sea.

E ana tāna.
What she/he said was incorrect.

E titiro ana a Honi.
Honi is looking.

E hīkoi ana rātou ki te tūnga pahi.
They're walking to the bus stop.

E kōrero ana au ki a ia.
I am speaking to her.

E haere ana mātou ki Wānaka ā tērā wiki.
We are going to Wānaka next week.

E rere ake ana te manu ki te kōmata o te rākau.
The bird is flying to the top of the tree.

E haere ana koe ki te kura āpōpō.
You're going to school tomorrow.

E kimi ana te ngeru ki te kiore.
The cat is searching for the mouse.

E haere ana au ki te rūma horoi hīrere ai.
I'm going to the bathroom for a shower.

E mārama ana au ki te kōrero.
I understand what is being said.

E mōhio ana ia he porotaka te ao.
He knows that the earth is round.

E hiahia ana ia ki te kani.
He wanted the saw.

E mauāhara ana a Rangi ki a Tawa.
Rangi is holding a grudge against Tawa.

E kōrero ana a Hemi ki te kaiako.
Hemi is talking to the teacher.

E kīia ana te kōrero...
The saying goes...

E tunu ana a Mere i te kai.
Mere is cooking the food.

Kāore au e ako ana i te reo Māori.
I am not learning the Māori language.

E oma ana ngā tamariki ki te kura.
The children are running to school.

E whana ana te tama i te pōro.
The boy is kicking the ball.

E kata ana a Tame.
Tame is laughing.

E waiata ana rātou.
They are singing.

E haere ana ia ki te whakarongo.
He is listening.

E tika ana me ki te mihi atu ki a koe.
It is appropriate to stand and acknowledge you..

E mau ana mātou i te wahie i te rori ki te whare.
We are carrying the firewood from the road to the house.

E haere ana koe ki te kura āpōpō.
You're going to school tomorrow.

E pēhea ana tērā tāne pai?
How is that good man?

E mōhio ana koe ki te kaukau?
Are you knowing how to swim?

E whakatipua ana te pātītī e Papa--ā-nuku.
The grass is being grown by Papa-tū-ā-nuku.

E rapu ana ia i tētahi rangimarietanga.
He's looking for peace of mind.

E whakapono ana ia ki te Atua.
She believes in God.

E mātaki-kiriata ana mātou.
We're movie-watching.

E ake ana ia ki te marae.
He is standing up on the marae.

E ana te waka ki te huarahi.
The car is parked on the road.

E māngere ana ngā tamariki i te pouaka whakaata.
The television is making the children lazy.

E mātakitaki ana te ngeru ki te manu.
The cat is watching the bird.

E kai ana te kurī i te kai.
The dog is eating the food.

E ua ana ki waho.
It's raining outside.

E ua ana.
It is raining.

E kōrero ana ia ki ngā tamariki.
He is talking to the children.

E tika ana te kōrero.
The statement is correct.

E tangi haere mai ana te ope.
The group are weeping as they come.

E hui ana te kōmihana ia marama te rua .
The Commission meets for two days in each month.

E tatari ana au ki te rārangi kia hoko ai i ōku .
I am waiting in the queue to pay for my shoes.

E haere ana ngā wāhine ki te toa.
The women are going to the shop.

E kimi ana a Manu i tāna waea pūkoro.
Manu is searching for his cell phone.

E ako ana au ki te raranga harakeke.
I am learning to weave flax.

E whai ana ngā tamariki i te pōro.
The children are chasing the ball.

E whai ana ngā tamariki i te pōro.
The children are chasing the ball.

E more ana a Hine.
Hine is sleeping.

E pīrangi ana a Hana ki tēnā aihikirimi.
Hana desires/wants that icecream by you.

E pīrangi ana ahau ki te hoki ti Taupō.
I want to return to Taupō.

E mea ana koe ko Ponga hei ariki mōu?
Are you saying that Pongo is to be your lord?

E tata ana ia ki te matapihi ka haere tonu ia ki te kūaha.
Being near the window, she walked to the door.

E mōhio ana au ki te tangata e kōrero koe.
I know the person you're talking about.

E mahi ana ia i Pōneke.
She works in Wellington.

E noho ana mātou i Kawakawa.
We were living in Kawakawa.

E hoki ana ia ki te kani.
He was returning to the saw.

E whakatā ana tāua i te ngahere.
We (you and I) are resting in the forest.

E kauhoe ana ia ki te motu.
She is going to swim to the island.

E pīrangi ana a Māui ki tēnā aihikirimi.
Māui desires/wants that icecream by you.

E tika ana kia mihi au ki a koe me whānau i tēnei pōuri.
It is appropriate for me to greet you and your family at this sad time.

E mōhio ana ahau ki te kaukau.
I am knowing how to swim.

E titiro ana te tauhou ki ahau.
The stranger was looking at me.

E whakamutu ana ia i tana horonga.
She is finishing the washing.

E kihi ana a Ari kāua ko Kauri.
Ari and Kauri are kissing.

E hiahia ana au ki tērā kākahu kahurangi.
I want that blue dress.

E tapahi ana ia ki te kani.
He was cutting with the saw.

E hui ana a Rama rāua ko Pita ki te pātaka kōrero.
Rama and Pita are meeting in the library.

E whāngai ana a Aroha i te kurī.
Aroha is feeding the dog.

E whiri ana au i tētahi kōnae.
I am braiding a food basket.

E hiahia ana ahau ki te ako i te reo Māori.
I want to learn Māori.

E mātakitaki ana rātou i te netipāora.
They are watching the netball.

E haere mai ana te ope ki runga i te marae.
That group over there is coming onto the marae.

E kimi ana a Manu i tāna waea pūkoro.
Manu is searching for his cell phone.

E kihi ana ia i tātahi ngeru pango.
She is kissing a black cat.

E moe ana te kuia .
The old lady is speaking.

E āwhina ana ahai i a ia.
I am helping him.

E mātakitaki pouaka whakaata ana a Rangi.
Rangi is television watching.

E haere ana mātou ki te one.
We are going to the beach.

E huna ana te pūngāwerewere i roto i te pouaka rēta.
The spider is hiding in the letterbox.

E titiro ana te tauhou ki a au.
The stranger was looking at me.

E paru ana ana ringa.
He has dirty hands.

E maumahara ana ahau ki taku tino matukutanga.
I am remembering being very frightened.

E pōwhiri ana rātou ki a mātou.
They are welcoming us.

E haere ana a Pāora.
Pāora is going.

E tae katoa mai ana ngā manuhiri.
All the visitors are arriving.

E mahi ana au i te hōhipera.
I work at the hospital.

E aroha ana ahau ki a Kauri.
I love Kauri.

E ana te whare.
The house is standing.

E hiahia ana ia ki te haere ki tāwāhi.
Do you want to go to.

E waiata ana ngā tamariki.
The children are (or were) singing.

E mōhio ana au ki ana kupu.
I am knowing what her words mean.

E ana te tamaiti tāne.
The boy is standing.

E whaikōrero ana te koroua.
The elderly man is making a speech.

E kai ana ngā tamariki i te hapa.
The children are eating dinner.

E whakarongo ana ngā pirihimana ki te tangata.
The policemen are listening to the person.

E titiro tonu ana aku whatu, ka whakairia oratia.
My eyes were still open and yet you suspended me alive.

E rerere ana te manu i runga tata iho i te ngata.
The bird is hovering just above the snail.

E whakakākahuana ia i a ia anō ki ōna kākahu tino pai.
He's getting himself dressed in his best clothes.

E moe ana au i tētahi rākau kākāriki.
I am sleeping in a green tree.

E tākaro ana rāua i te papa tākaro.
They (two people) are playing at the playground.

E pēhea ana koutou?
How are you all now?

E whakarongo ana māua ko Paora ki te tumuaki.
Paora and I are listening to the head-master.

E tono ana ia kia haere ia ki te whakatā.
He is requesting to go for a break.

E pīrangi ana ahau ki te āporo .
I am wanting that apple.

E paki ana.
It is sunny.

E āwhina ana a Pita i a Niko.
Pita is helping Niko.

E maumahara ana ahau ki rāua arunga e te kurī .
I remember them being chased by that dog.

E pēhea ana tērā kerēwatiki?
How is that clever dickie?

E whakamārama ana te kaiako i te mahi ki ngā tamariki.
The teacher is explaining the work to the children.

E kai ana te pēpi i ngā rīwai.
The baby is eating the potatoes.

E puta ana ngā tamariki katoa ki waho.
All of the children are going outside.

E haere atu ana au ki .
I'm going over there.

E moe ana te pēpi.
The baby is sleeping.

E kata hoki ana a Ataahua.
Ataahua is also laughing.

E haere ana tātou ki te toa āpōpō.
We will be going to the store tomorrow.

E pānui ana te tama i te pukapuka.
The boy is reading the book.

E pōuto ana ia i te rākau .
He is chopping down the treee.

E horoi ana a Tame i a ia.
Tame is washing himself.

E waiata ana māua i te hui.
We (me and one other person) are singing at the gathering.

E haere ana ngā tamariki katoa ki waho.
All of the children are going outside.

E ana ia ki mua i Te Rōpū Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi.
He is standing in front of the Treaty of Waitangi.

E whakapono ana au ki a koe.
I am believing in you.

E kōwhiti ana te tamaiti i ngā kuku.
The mussels are being shelled by that child by you.

E inu ana ia i te kapu wai.
She is drinking a cup of water.

E moe ana te paruauru i roto i te wharau.
The gardener is sleeping in the shed.

E haere ana koe ki hea?
Where are you going now?

E haere ana tātou ki te hui raranga.
We are going to the weaving meeting.

E tātaku ana tērā i ngā kauhau o nehe, me te kōrero i ngā mahi a ngā tūpuna i mahia i tēnei taha.
They recited the old recitations from ancient times, and talked about the deeds of the ancestors.

E haka ana te iwi whenua i te haka.
The local people were performing the haka.

E haere ana au ki te mahi.
I am going to work.

E pīrangi ana a Ari ki tēnā aihikirimi.
Ari is wanting that icecream by you.

E heke ana te hukarere.
The snow is falling.

E whiti ana te .
The sun is shining.

E takoto ana rāua.
They're lying down.

E ua ana te ua.
It is raining (lit: "the rain is raining").

E hui ana te kōmihana o te Taura Whiri ia marama te rua .
The Māori Language Commission meets each month for two days.

E mohio ana au ki ana kupu.
I know what her words mean.

E kōrero ana ngā wāhine.
The women are talking.

E kai ana ngā tamariki i ngā āporo.
The children are eating the apples.

E mataku ana ia ki a au?
Is she afraid of me?

E kauhoe ana ia ki te moutere.
She is going to swim to the island.

E hiahia pukapuka ana ahau.
I want a book.

E noho ana au i te rohe o Pōneke.
I am living in the Wellington region.

E pōwhiri ana rātou ki a mātou.
They are welcoming us.

E haere ana mātou ki te one āpōpō.
We are going to the beach tomorrow.

E noho ana au i te rohe o Pōneke.
I am living in the Wellington area.

E kaingākau ana ia ki tana mokopuna ki a Tīwana.
She is very fond of her grandchild, Tīwana.