Māori Grammar

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Like this, like that - pēnei, pēna, pēra
Don't talk like that!
Don't talk like that!
pēnei, pēna, pēra

The words pēnei, pēnā and pērā mean "like this" or "like that.'

I moe ia, pēnei tonu i a Tamahae nei.
He was asleep, just like Tamae here.

te aha koe i titiro tītaha pērā mai ai?
What caused you to look sideways at me like that?

te aha i pēnei ai?
For what reason is it like this?

Me waiata pēnei koe: Hari huritau ki a koe!
You should sing like this: happy birthday to you!

Kāua e kōrero pēnā.
Don't talk like that.

Kei te pērā tonu hoki a muri i a ia.
Those behind him were doing the same.

He aha koe i titiro tītaha pēnā mai ai?
Why do you always look sideways at me like that?

Kei te pōturi pēnā me te ngeru.
Slow like a cat.

He pēnei tonu au ki te mahi.
I am always working (lit: "I always work like this").

Kei te pērā tonu au.
I'm unchanged.

E, kāti te kōrero pēnā taku mokopuna!
Hey, stop talking like that about my grandchild!

Ki te ngaro te reo, ka ngaro tāua pērā i te moa.
If the language is lost, we are lost like that of the large extinct moa bird.

Kei te moe tonu pea, pērā i rāua pāpā.
They are probably still sleeping, just like their father.

Kei te mau au pērā i a Michael Jordan.
I am wearing shoes like Michael Jordan.

He pērā te āhua o Nikau, he ngākau māhaki tōna.
Nikau's nature is like that, he has a kind heart.

Ka waiata koe pērā i a Tui Teka.
You sing like Tui Teka.

te aha i pēnā ai?
For what reason is it like this?

Me wiri ō ringa pēnei.
You should quiver your hands like this.

Kei te mau au pērā i a ia.
I am wearing shoes like her.

Me pēnei taku kōrero...
Let me tell you like this...

Kāore au i te pīrangi ki tētehi kai pērā i tēnei ata.
I do not want any food like that this morning.

te aha i pērā ai?
For what reason is it like that?

I pēnā hoki.
It was the same.

He pai ki a au ngā rangi pēnei, he ātaahua.
I like days like this - beautiful!

Mahia kia pēnei.
Do it like this.

Me teitei koe pērā i te tōtara.
You should stand tall like the tātara tree.

Me pēnei.
(You should do it) like this.