Māori Grammar

All nouns in te reo Māori belong on one of two categories, known as the a and o categories. The possessive that is used will change depending on the category.

For example, food is the a category and so a person would say:

tāku kai
my food

But a house is in the o category, and so a person would say:

tōku whare
my house

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The woman is sleeping at the man's house

things in the 'o' category: where you live

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Rangi's bed is big

O category: your body and things associated with it, such as a bed

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Our tomato is red

All the singular personal possessives in the a and o categories

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My tummy is sore

All the possessive pronouns in the o category

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I love my boss

The o category for superiors

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Everything in the o category