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