Māori Grammar

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The family were playing the game

past tense using i and i te

Kei te is the tense marker used to indicate that something is happening in the present:

Kei te oma au.
I am running.

The past tense is indicated by using i te.

I te oma au.
I was running.

I te mutunga o te pōwhiri, ka tū te hākari.
At the end of the welcome, a feast was held.

I te whana te tama i te pōro.
The boy was kicking the ball.

I te haere rātou.
They were going.

I te whakarongo mātou ki te waiata i te rā whānau.
We were listening to the song at the birthday.

Ka whakatika a Hine i te whare ā te ata.
Hine will clean the house in the morning.

I te kōrero au ki a ia.
I was speaking to her.

Ka haere rātou ki te moana ki te kaukau.
They will go to the beach to swim.

I te hanga te kaiako i ngā mahi mō te akomanga.
The teacher was preparing the work for the class.

I te kaha o te rā ki to whiti, ka pōngia iho ahau.
The sun was so bright I had to close my eyes.

I te mātakitaki au i te kiriata me ōku hoa.
I was watching the movie with my friends.

I te inumanga o te pia, ka hauranga rātou.
On drinking the beer, they got drunk.

I te mutunga wiki i haere au ki te awa,te kura, te toa hoki.
On the weekend I went to the river, to the school and also to the shop.

I te topenga o te rākau, ka riri te iwi.
When the tree was cut, the people were angry.

I te whakareri a Mere mō te haerenga ki Tāhuna.
Mere was preparing for the trip to Queenstown.

Ka haere mātou ki te whare pikitia hei te Rāmere.
We will go to the cinema on Friday.

I te mutunga o te hui, ka tū he arotakenga.
At the end of the hui, an evaluation was done.

I te haere rātou ki te moana ki te kauhoe.
They were going to the beach to swim.

Ka tuhituhi a Pita i te reta mō tōna hoa.
Pita will write the letter for his friend.

Ka rere te waka rererangi ki Tāmaki Makaurau ā te ahiahi.
The plane will fly to Auckland in the afternoon.

I te piki au i te rākau.
I was climbing the tree.

I te haere au ki te toa ki te hoko kai.
I was going to the shop to buy food.

I te hari katoa hāunga anō a Honi.
Everyone was happy except Honi.

I te moe a Manu.
Manu was asleep.

I te hanga rātou i te whare.
They were building the house.

I te pupuhi te hau inanahi.
The wind was blowing yesterday.

I te tū ia.
He was standing.

I te tākaro ngā tamariki i te pāmu i te rā wera
The children were playing at the farm on the hot day.

I te pānui au.
I was reading.

Ka haere au ki te toa āpōpō ki te hoko kai.
I will go to the shop tomorrow to buy food.

I te moe ngā pēpi.
The baby was sleeping.

I te matapihi tata tonu, ka haere ia ki te kūaha.
She walked from near the window to the door.

I te kai te kōtiro.
The girl was eating.

I te pupuhi te hau.
The wind was blowing.

I te kōrero a Amaru.
Amaru was talking.

Ka tunu a Mere i te kai mō te whānau ā te pō.
Mere will cook dinner for the family tonight.

I te ako a Pita i te reo Māori i te kura.
Pita was learning te reo Māori at school.

I te hoki mai a Rewi i te mahi i te ahiahi.
Rewi was returning from work in the evening.

I te pīrangi koe ki te kaputī?
Did you want a tea?

I te whakawhitinga o te katipō i te matapihi, mea oma.
The spider ran across the window.

I te Mane ka haere ahau ki Taupō.
I went to Taupo on Monday.

Ka kōrero a Rewi ki te kaiako hei te Rātū.
Rewi will speak to the teacher on Tuesday.

I te tunu a Hana i te keke mō te hui.
Hana was baking the cake for the meeting.

I te hīkoi a Taika ki te kura.
Taika was walking to school.

I te matekai ngā tamariki.
The children were hungry.

I te whakarongo koutou?
Were you listening?

I te hīkoi rātou i nanahi.
They were walking yesterday.

Ka horoi koe i ngā rīhi i muri i te kai.
You will wash the dishes after the meal.

Ka waiata te kapa haka i te hui.
The haka group will sing at the gathering.

I te raka tonu te hōro.
The hall was still locked.

I te kai te kōtero i te āporo.
The girl was eating the apple.

I te kōrero ngā wahine.
The women were talking.