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).
Ko Ani te kaikaranga o tērā hapū?
Is Ani the caller of that hapū?Tokomaha ngā tāngata o tērā iwi.
There are a lot of people in that tribe.He ātaahua tērā ngeru!
That's a beautiful cat!He anuanu tērā kurī.
That dog's ugly.Kei te pīrangi ia ki tērā waka.
She wants that car.He whare nui tērā.
That (over there) is a big house.He rawe tērā whakaaro, nē hā?
That is a great idea, eh?Kāore tērā kōrero i te tika.
That account is not correct.He tōtara tērā rākau.
That tree is a tōtara.He kārearea tērā.
That is a falcon.He makariri tērā tī.
That tea is cold.He kaiako tērā wahine.
That woman is a teacher.He kōwhai tērā rākou.
That tree is a kōwhai.He waka rererangi tērā.
That (over there) is a plane.Ko tā rātou kurī tērā e auau ana.
That is their dog barking.Kāore au e pai ki te tae o tērā motoka.
I don't like the colour of that car.Te tere hoki o tērā motopaika!
How fast that motorbike is!Kāhore kau he kākā kura o tērā pōkai.
That flock didn't have any red kākā.He taraka miraka tērā.
That's a milk truck.I pānui a Toa i tērā pukapuka.
Toa read that book.He pango tērā rēme.
That lamb is black.He hātekēhi tērā koroua.
That old fellow is a hard case.He kararehe nui tērā.
That's a big animal.No te kuia tērā pōtae.
That hat belongs to the old lady.He mihi tērā ki te whānau whānui.
That is a greeting to the extended family.He ara kino tērā?
Is that a bad road?Ko tērā te manuhiri.
That's the guest.Ko Pita tērā kei te tapahi i te mīti.
That's Pita chopping the meat.Te ātaahua hoki o tērā wahine!
How beautiful that woman is!