Māori Grammar
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Tērā is a determiner meaning “that thing over there”. Other determiners are tēnei (“this thing near me”) and tēnā (“that thing near you”).
The initial t is dropped in the plural forms: ērā (“those things over there”), ēnei (“those things near me”) and ēnā (“those things near you”).
An alternative structure, with the same meaning, is te...rā and ngā...rā.
Tērā mea.
That thing (over there).
Ērā mea.
Those things (over there).
Te mea rā.
That thing (over there).
Ngā mea rā.
Those things (over there).
He anuanu tērā kurī.
That dog's ugly.Te paruparu o tērā tangata!
What a dirty man.Ko tā rātou kurī tērā e auau ana.
That is their dog barking.Ko Pita tērā kei te tapahi i te mīti.
That's Pita chopping the meat.He kōwhai tērā rākou.
That tree is a kōwhai.He rawe tērā whakaaro, nē hā?
That is a great idea, eh?Te ātaahua hoki o tērā wahine!
How beautiful that woman is!He hātekēhi tērā koroua.
That old fellow is a hard case.Ko tērā te manuhiri.
That's the guest.Kāore au e pai ki te tae o tērā motoka.
I don't like the colour of that car.He kararehe nui tērā.
That's a big animal.Kāhore kau he kākā kura o tērā pōkai.
That flock didn't have any red kākā.He aha tērā?
What is that (over there)?He whare nui tērā.
That (over there) is a big house.He taraka miraka tērā.
That's a milk truck.Tokomaha ngā tāngata o tērā iwi.
There are a lot of people in that tribe.He pūrotu tērā tāne.
That man is handsome.He pango tērā rēme.
That lamb is black.He kārearea tērā.
That is a falcon.No te kuia tērā pōtae.
That hat belongs to the old lady.He waka rererangi tērā.
That (over there) is a plane.Te tere hoki o tērā motopaika!
How fast that motorbike is!He mihi tērā ki te whānau whānui.
That is a greeting to the extended family.Kāore tērā kōrero i te tika.
That account is not correct.He kaiako tērā wahine.
That woman is a teacher.He ātaahua tērā ngeru!
That's a beautiful cat!He tōtara tērā rākau.
That tree is a tōtara.He makariri tērā tī.
That tea is cold.Kei te pīrangi ia ki tērā waka.
She wants that car.Ko Moana te kaikaranga o tērā hapū?
Is Moana the caller of that hapū?