Māori Grammar
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The past agent emphatic says who did something. It uses the nā... i... structure where the verb or mahi follows the i:
Nā wai ngā rihi i horoi?
Who was the one who washed the dishes?
Nāku ngā rīhi i horoi.
I was the one who washed the dishes.
Nāu ngā rīhi i horoi.
You were the one who washed the dishes.
Nāna ngā rīhi i horoi.
He was the one who washed the dishes.
Nā tātou te waiata i waiata.
We were the ones who sang the song.
Nā ngā tamariki te whare i whakapai.
The childred were the ones who cleaned the house
The agent emphatic has an emphasis on who did the action. Instead of simply saying "I did the dishes", the agent emphatic says: "I was the one who did the dishes".
Nā rātou ngā manuhiri i pōhiri.
They welcomed the guests.Ehara i tōku hoa te kai i tunu.
It wasn't my friend who cooked the food.Nā Mere mā i horoi ngā pereti.
Mere and the others washed the plates.Nā wai ō kākahu i pōkai i tēnei wiki?
Who was the one who folded the clothes last week?Nā wai tō kai i tunu inapō
Who was the one who cooked your food last night?Nāku i kī atu ki a koe.
It was me who told you.Nā Tame te keke i tunu.
Tame was the one who baked the cake.Nā te pirihimana i hopu te tāhae.
It was the policeman who caught the thief.Nā te kōtiro te kete ātaahua i raranga.
It was the girl who wove the beautiful basket.Nāu i horoi, nāku i tāora.
You washed, I dried.Nāku tēnei kete.
This kit is mine.Nāku te keke tunu.
I was the one who cooked the cake.Nā Nikau i āwhina a Pāora.
It was Nikau who helped Pāora.Nā te kōtiro te taramu i patu.
It was the girl who hit the drum.Nā rātou i whakapai te whare.
It was them who cleaned the house.Nāku te kai i tunu.
I was the one who cooked the food.Nāku i tiki te kai.
It was me who fetched the food.Nā te kōtiro ngā putiputi i raranga.
It was the girl who wove the flowers.Nāku i horoi ngā rīhi.
It was me who washed the dishes.Nā rāua i hanga te whare.
It was them (two) who built the house.Nāku te whare i whakapai.
I cleaned the house.Nāna te kai i tunu.
He cooked the food.Nāna te whare i whakapai.
She cleaned the house.Nā Pita i mau ngā kī.
It was Pita who held the keys.Nāna ngā manuhiri i karanga.
She called to the guests.Nā te ua tātou i kore ai e haere.
It was because of the rain that we didn't go.Nā wai te papa i tahitahi?
Who swept the floor?Nā ngā tamariki te whare i whakapai.
The children were the ones who cleaned the house.Nāku i whakarite te hui.
It was me who organized the meeting.Nā ngā tamariki i whakangaro ngā mea tākaro.
It was the children who lost the toys.Nā wai i horoi ngā pereti?
Who washed the plates?Nā ngā tamariki i kato te pūhā.
The children picked the pūhā.Nā Hera tōku whare i hanga.
It was Hera who built my house.Nā te tama i tiki ngā mea tākaro.
It was the boy who fetched the toys.Nāku te parāoa i mahi.
I made the bread.Nāu ngā pereti i horoi.
You washed the plates.Nāku te keke i tunu.
I was the one who cooked the cake.Nā te kāmura.
It was done by the carpenter.Nā Kauri i mahi te parāoa.
Kauri made the bread.Nāku i tunu te kai.
I cooked the food.Nāu te whare i whakapai.
You cleaned the house.Nā Hine i kī te kōrero.
It was Hine who made the statement.Nāku tēnei whare i hanga.
I was the one who built this house.Nā tana rōpā i whakanoi he kai māna.
His slave hung some food up for him.Nā wai taku motokā whakapai?
Who cleaned my car?Nāku i kawe te pēke.
It was me who carried the bag.Nāku i kōrero ki a ia.
It was me who spoke to him/her.Nāku te karakia i taki.
I was the one who recited the prayer.Nāna i pupuhi te manu.
He was the one who shot the bird.Nā te rangatira taua īmēra i pānui.
It was the boss who read that (aforementioned) email.Nāna te keke i tunu.
She was the one who baked the cake.haena
iron (clothes)Nā wai te kai i tunu?
Who cooked for food?Nā wai tō moenga i whakatika ii tēnei ata?
Who made your bed the morning?Nā ngā mātou te whare i whakaparuparu.
It was the parents who messed up the house.Nā rātou i horoi ngā pereti.
They washed the plates.Nā wai ō kākahu i horoi i tērā wiki?
Who washed the clothes last week?Nā wai te whare i whakatika?
Who fixed the house?Nā wai i mahi te parāoa?
Who made the bread?Nā Rangi i pupuhi te manu.
Rangi shot the bird.Nā rātou i kawe te patu.
They carried weapons.Nā Koa te papa i tahitahi.
It was Koa who swept the floor.Nā Manu te waka i hoe ki te motu.
Manu paddled the boat to the island.Nā rāua i whawhai ki ngā pirihimana.
It was them (two) who fought with the police.Nāku te waka i horoi.
I washed the car.Nā koutou i para i te ara.
You paved the way.Nā tōku hoa te kai i tunu.
My friend was the one who cooked the food.Nā wai te whare i whakapai?
Who was the one who cleaned the house?Nā wai te parāoa i mahi?
Who made the bread?Nā wai i kī e mārena ana tō tuakana?
Who said your brother's getting married?Nā wai tō kawhe i whakarite i tēnei rā?
Who was the one who made your coffee today?Nāku i hoko te ngeru.
It was me who bought the cat.Nāku i tuhituhi te reta.
It was me who wrote the letter.Nāku ngā rīhi i horoi.
I was the one who washed the dishes.Nā Maru te kūmara i whakatipu.
It was Maru grew the kumara.Nā te wahine anake tērā mahi.
That task is done by woman alone.Nā wai tō kai i whakarite i tēnei rā?
Who was the one who prepared food today?Nānā te pūhā i kato.
She/he picked the pūhā.Nā ngā tamariki te pūhā i kato.
The children picked the pūhā.Nā Manu te waka i hoe ki te motu.
It was Manu who paddled the boat to the island.Nā wai te whare i whakaparuparu?
Who was the one who messed up the house?Nāku a Ataahua i whakarere iho ake.
I abandoned Ataahua.Nā wai rātou i nanaaki?
Who looked after them?Nā wai ngā rihi i horoi?
Who washed the dishes?Nāku te pukapuka hītori i pānui i te Pātaka Kōrero.
I read the history book in the library.Nā Honi te karakia i taki.
It was Honi who recited the prayer.Nā ngā tauira i whakarite te whakaaturanga.
It was the students who prepared the presentation.Nā te paruauru te oneone i taupoki.
It was the gardener who dug the garden.Nā te kaiako i whakaako i ngā tauira.
It was the teacher who taught the students.Nā Ponga ahau i āwhina.
I was protected by Ponga.Nā ngā kaiako i whakaako ngā tamariki.
It was the teachers who taught the children.Nāu te mahi uaua i mahi.
You did the hard work.Nāu te keke i tunu.
You were the one who baked the cake.Nā wai ngā pereti i horoi?
Who washed the plates?Nā wai te pūhā i kato?
Who picked the pūhā?Nā te moko o Ponga i pai ai.
It is because of Ponga's facial tattoo that he was attractive.Nā Ponga tēnā, ēhara i a au.
Ponga is the cause, not me.Nāku i horoi te motokā.
It was me who washed the car.Nā wai tō wharepaku i horoi i tērā wiki?
Who was the one who cleaned the toilet last week?Nā Aria ngā keke nā i tunu.
Aria cooked those cakes (near you).Nā māua ngā tamariki i tiki.
We got the kids.Nā mātou te kai i tunu.
We cooked the food.Nāna i tiki ngā tamariki i te kura.
It was him/her who picked up the children from school.Nā te kōtiro i waiata i te waiata.
It was the girl who sang the song.Nā wai taku wai i inu?
Who drank my water?Nāu au i kitea mai ai ki konei.
It is because of you that I am seen here.Nā wai i kato te pūhā?
Who picked the pūhā?Nāku kē te waka i whakakī.
I actually filled the car up with petrol.Nā Aroha i tahitahi te papa.
It was Aroha who swept the floor.Nā taku tāne te parakuihi i whakarite!
(It was) my husband (who) prepared breakfast!Nāku ngā pereti i horoi.
I washed the plates.Nā te kaiako i kī ngā ture.
It was the teacher who stated the rules.Nā tātou te waiata i waiata.
We were the ones who sang the song.Nā mātou i kai ngā kai katoa.
It was us (excluding you) who ate all the food.Nāku i tiki te pukapuka.
It was me who fetched the book.Nā wai koe i ako ki te whakapai moenga?
Who was the one who taught you to make your bed?Nā rātou ngā pereti i horoi.
They washed the plates.Nā Ari ngā kai i tunu.
It was Ari who cooked the food.Nā te kōtiro te kurī i patu.
It was the girl who hit the dog.Nā Tawa ēnei putiputi i katokato.
Tawa picked these flowers.Nā ngā tāngata i āwhina te whānau.
It was the people who helped the family.Nāna i tunu te keke.
It was him/her who baked the cake.Nā te kaiako ia i whaka-oho.
It was the teacher who woke him/her up.Nā rāua i whakahoki ngā pukapuka.
It was them (two) who returned the books.Nāku te pātai i pātai.
It was me who asked the question.Nā tō rātou māmā.
It was their mother who did it.Nā wai koe i whakapakeke?
Who was the one who raised you?Nāku i hoko ngā hū.
It was me who bought the shoes.Nā wai tēnā i mahi?
Who did that?Nā Hōne i hanga te pouaka.
It was Hōne who built the box.Nāna te tēpu i whakarite.
She was the one who set the table.Nā Ponga te kōhuru i a au.
Ponga is responsible for the treachery against me.Nāku anō taku haere mai.
I alone am responsible for my coming here.Nā wai a Papa rāua ko Rangi i whakawehe?
Who separated Papa and Rangi?Nāu ngā kūmara i waru.
You were the one who peeled the kūmera.Nā Hēmi te parāoa i mahi.
Hēmi made the bread.Nā taua rōpū ngā waiata tino reka.
That group did the sweetest singing.Nā te kairangahau i uiui ia tamariki, o ngā whānau katoa.
The researcher interviewed each group of children from all the families.Nāna rātou i manaaki.
She was the one who looked after them.Nā te kaitāmoko tōku moko i hoahoa.
It was the tattooist who designed my tattoo.