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