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 hīkoi rātou i nanahi.
They were walking yesterday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I te pānui au.
I was reading.

I te whakarongo koutou?
Were you listening?

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

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

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

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

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

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

I te moe a Kauri.
Kauri was asleep.

I te haere rātou.
They were going.

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

I te pupuhi te hau.
The wind was blowing.

I te kōrero ngā wahine.
The women were talking.

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

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

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

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

I te matekai ngā tamariki.
The children were hungry.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

I te kōrero a Nikau.
Nikau was talking.

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

I te moe ngā pēpi.
The baby was sleeping.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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