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.
Māna ēnei pene.
These pens are for him.Mā ngā tauira tēnei pepa.
This paper is for the students.He tī pango māku!
I'll have a black tea!He kawhe māu e hoa?
Would you like a coffee mate?He pānui tēnei māu.
This notice is for you.Māu tēnei pene.
This pen is for you.Mā wai tēnei pene?
Who is this pen for?Mōku tēnei tūru.
This chair is for me.Mā ngā tāngata tēnei kōrero.
This speech is for the people.Mā Pita tēnei pukapuka.
This book is for Pita.Mā rātou tēnei kai.
This food is for them.Māku
for meMāku tēnei kai.
This food is for me.Māna tēnei taonga.
This treasure is for him/her.Māna tēnei pukapuka.
This book is for her.Māku tēnei.
I will have this one.Mā te kaiako tēnei pouaka whakaata.
This television is for the teacher.He panakeke pea māku, kia rua.
Perhaps I'll have two pancakes.Mā Pani ēnei pukapuka.
These books are for Pani.Mā rāua tēnei kāri.
This card is for them (two).Mō tā rāua tama ērā hū.
Those shoes are for their son.He hanawiti māku.
I want a sandwhich.Mō wai ērā hu?
Who are those shoes for?He kawhe, he hanawiti, he keke hoki māku.
I want a coffee, a sandwich and cake.Māu te pukapuka nei.
This book is for you.Mā te whānau tēnei keke.
This cake is for the family.Mā ngā tauira tēnei akoranga.
This lesson is for the students.Mā ngā kaiako tēnei pouaka.
This box is for the teachers.Mō ngā tamariki tēnei whare.
This house is for the children.He wītipiki anō māu e te tau?
Do you want another weetbix darling?Māu tēnei pene.
This pen is for you.Mō tō māmā tēnei hāte.
This shirt is for your mother.Mā ngā manuhiri tēnei kai.
This food is for the guests.He tī puihiwhero māku.
I'll have a red bush tea.Mā Nikau ngā putiputi nei.
These flowers are for Nikau.Kia kotahi māku, kia rua mā Rangi.
One for me, two for Rangi.Mōku ērā hū.
Those shoes are for me.Mō rātou tēnei waka.
This vehicle is for them.Mō ngā tamariki tēnei kākahu.
This clothing is for the children.Mā ngā tamariki tēnei āporo.
This apple is for the children.Mō Niko rāua ko tana tama.
For Niko and his son.Mō ngā kaumātua tēnei tūru.
This chair is for the elders.