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The past tense is indicated by using the tense marker i te:
I te oma au.
I was running.
This can also be used as a locative, to indicate where something was. For example:
I te kura ia.
She was at school.
This is very similar to the use of kei as a locative, saying where someone or something is at the moment:
Kei te kura ia.
She is at school.
I runga i te ara te motokā.
The car was on the road.I konei te toa.
The shop used to be here.I te marae, he aha te mahi a ngā koroua?
At the marae, what is the work of the elders?I runga i te tūru te pukapuka.
The book was on the chair.I taku whaea ngā tamariki.
The children were with my mother.I te tepu.
It was on the table.I te waka rā, he tāne kau.
In the canoe, there was just a man (or: "there were just men").I te taha katau o te waka te kurī.
The dog was to the right of the car.I a rāua te waka i te ata nei.
They had it this morning.I hea te pene?
Where was the pen?I mua i te kuaha ngā tamariki.
The children were in front of the door.I a Hōne ngā kī inapō.
Hōne had the keys last night.I te kāinga ahau ināpō.
I was at home last night.I tōku tari au.
I was in my office.I roto i te pouaka ngā āporo.
The apples were in the box.I te taha mauī o te tēpu te ngeru.
The cat was to the left of the table.I raro te ngeru i te tūru.
The cat was under the chair.I taua wāhi te marae.
The marae was at that place.I te taha o te awa aua mea.
They were beside the river.I runga te pene i te tēpu.
The pen was on the table.I konei tonu.
It was right here.I roto i te wharepaku a Hine.
Hine was in the bathroom.I konei te toa.
The shop used to be here.I roto i te whare ngā pukapuka.
The books were inside the house.I reira te waka.
The car was there.I tōku tari au.
I was in my office.I raro i te tēpu.
Under the table.I muri tēnei pukapuka i te tūru.
This book was behind the chair.I Disneyland au!
I was in Disneyland!I runga i te taraka.
On the truck.I raro i te tēpu ngā hū.
The shoes were below the table.I te ara haere atu i Waiuku ki Te Maioro.
On the path from Waiuku to Te Maioro.I runga ake te kapu i te tēpu.
The cup was above the table.I muri i te whare te motokā.
The car was behind the house.I runga ake i te maunga ngā manu.
The birds were above the mountain.I te whare pikitia.
At the pictures.I Ingarangi koe?
Were you in England?I runga i te tēpu.
On the table.