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