Māori Grammar

I pakeke ake au i Ahuriri, engari ko Te Tai Rāwhiti kē tōku ake kāinga.
I grew up in Napier but the Eastland region is my real home.

Kāore aku tamariki, engari he tokomaha āku irāmutu, tekau mā rima rātou.
I don't have any kids, but I have many nieces and nephews, there are fifteen of them.

Kei te haere ahau ki te kura mā runga pahi, engari kei te haere koe ki te toa mā raro.
I'm going to school by bus but you're walking to the shop.

Kei te ako ahau, engari he pōturi.
I'm learning but I'm slow.

Kei konei au, engari kei te moe tonu ngā karu Nan.
I am here, but my eyes are still sleeping Nan.

Kāore i taea e au te kanikani, engari ināianei, āe, ka taea te kanikani.
I couldn't dance, but now, yeah, I can dance.

Ko Pōneke te taone matua, engari ko Akarana te taone nui.
Wellington is the capital city, but Auckland is the big city.

I te mea...
Because...

He pai ki ahau te mahita, nā te mea, he humarie ia.
I like the teacher, because he's handsome.

Kāore e pai ki ahau te mahita, na te mea, he haunga ia.
I don't like the teacher because he smells.

Ko Ngāmotu te taone pai, engari ko Tūranga te taone mahana.
New Plymouth is the great city, but Gisborne is the warm city.

He waka tōna, engari kua pakaru tōna waka.
He has a car, but his car is broken.

Kei te pai au, engari kei te tangi ia.
I'm ok, but she's crying.

Ehara māku e taki te karakia, nā te mea he iti taku kete pāpaku taku kete karakia.
I will not be the one to recite the prayer because my kete is shallow.

Ka kite hoki i ētahi atu rerekētanga, engari, mō te reremahi, kahore.
There are other differences as well, but for verbal sentences, there aren't any.

Kei te hōhā ahau i te mea he uaua tēnei mahi.
I am bored because this work is too hard.

I oti i a au, engari kua mamae taku ringa i te tuhituhi.
I completed it but my hand is sore from all the writing.

Nō Waikanae, engari kei konei mātou ko tōku whānau e noho ana.
From Waikanae, but my family and I are staying here.

Kei te pai, pāpā. Engari, kua whakakīa te waka ki te penehinu?
All good, pāpā. But, has the car been filled with petrol?

He makariri, engari he rawe te hararei.
It was cold, but it was a great holiday.

Ka haere ahau, engari kāhore a Ari i haere mai.
I went, but Ari didn't.

Kua reri mai te marae, engari kei te tāria tonutia te manuhiri.
The marae is ready, but we are still waiting for the guests.

E whakaae ana ētahi, engari kāore anō ētahi atu kia whakaae.
Some agree, but others have not yet agreed.

I tērā tai i te kāinga ngā tamariki a ako ana, engari kei te kura rātou i tēnei wā.
Last year the children were learning at home, but they are at the school now.

Kei te oherere ahau i te mea he māmā rawa tēnei mahi.
I am surprised because this work is too easy.