Māori Grammar
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Future possession can be denoted by the m-class of possessives. Typically, this is translated as something being "for" a person:
māku/mōku - for me
māu/mōu - for you
māna/mōna - for him/her
mā/mō tāua - for us two (you and me)
mā/mō māua - for us two (not you)
mā/mō kōrua - for you two
mā/mō rāua - for them two
mā/mō mātou - for us (three+, exclusive – not including you)
mā/mō tātou - for us (three+, inclusive – including you)
mā/mō koutou - for you all (three+)
mā/mō rātou - for them all (three+)
mā/mō Rangi - for Rangi
mā/mō Rangi rāua ko Mere - for Rangi and Mere
mā/mō te kaiako - for the teacher
mā/mō ngā tamariki - for the children
This uses the a and o categories for the object:
Māku tēnei kai.
This food is for me.
Mōku tēnei wai.
This water is for me.
Mā/mō describes "unrealised possession" where something is owned by a person but they have not yet received it. (An example might be where a person has bought a book online and have paid for it, but it is still being delivered and they have not yet received it.)
Mō ngā tamariki tērā papa tākaro.
That playground is for the children.
This assumes that the children are not yet in possession of the playground as it shows future (not current) ownership. Perhaps the playground is still being built.
The m-class marks prospective possession - i.e., something that is intended, designated, set aside, or destined for someone. The person does not own it yet; it is merely allocated to them. The m-class is used for gifts you intend to give, meals you are about to cook for someone, and tasks you are assigned to do for someone.
Mā rātou tēnei kai.
This food is for them.Mōku tēnei tūru.
This chair is for me.Māku tēnei.
I will have this one.Mō Nikau ērā hu.
Those shoes are for Nikau.Mō tā rāua tama ērā hū.
Those shoes are for their son.Mā ngā tauira tēnei akoranga.
This lesson is for the students.Mā Pita tēnei pukapuka.
This book is for Pita.Mā Pani ēnei pukapuka.
These books are for Pani.Mōku ērā hū.
Those shoes are for me.He kawhe, he hanawiti, he keke hoki māku.
I want a coffee, a sandwich and cake.Māna tēnei taonga.
This treasure is for him/her.Māna ēnei pene.
These pens are for him.Māku tēnei pene.
This pen is for me.Mō tō māmā tēnei hāte.
This shirt is for your mother.He wītipiki anō māu e te tau?
Do you want another weetbix darling?Kia kotahi māku, kia rua mā Rangi.
One for me, two for Rangi.Mō rātou tēnei waka.
This vehicle is for them.Māku tēnei kai.
This food is for me.Mā rāua tēnei kāri.
This card is for them (two).Māna tēnei pene.
This pen is for her.He panakeke pea māku, kia rua.
Perhaps I'll have two pancakes.Mō wai ērā hu?
Who are those shoes for?Mā ngā tauira tēnei pepa.
This paper is for the students.Mā Rangi ngā putiputi nei.
These flowers are for Rangi.Māna tēnei pukapuka.
This book is for her.He tī pango māku!
I'll have a black tea!Mō ngā tamariki tēnei whare.
This house is for the children.Mā wai tēnei pene?
Who is this pen for?He hanawiti māku.
I want a sandwhich.Mā te kaiako tēnei pouaka whakaata.
This television is for the teacher.Māu tēnei pene.
This pen is for you.Mō ngā kaumātua tēnei tūru.
This chair is for the elders.He pānui tēnei māu.
This notice is for you.Mā te whānau tēnei keke.
This cake is for the family.Mā ngā tamariki tēnei āporo.
This apple is for the children.Māu te pukapuka nei.
This book is for you.Mā ngā tamariki tēnei tākaro.
This toy is for the children.He kawhe māu e hoa?
Would you like a coffee mate?Mō ngā tamariki tēnei kākahu.
This clothing is for the children.Mā ngā kaiako tēnei pouaka.
This box is for the teachers.He tī puihiwhero māku.
I'll have a red bush tea.Mā ngā manuhiri tēnei kai.
This food is for the guests.Mā ngā tāngata tēnei kōrero.
This speech is for the people.Māu tēnei pene.
This pen is for you.Māku
for me