Ngā Tohutohu
Nā and nō in this context refer to the owner or to whom the object belongs to. Whether nā or nō is used is determined by the type of the object and whether it falls into the a or o category. Look at the following examples:
He pēke nā Pita.
Bags of Peter.
He hākete nō Ani
A jacket of Ani’s.
He whakakai nō Mākere.
A necklace of Margaret’s.
He keke tiakarete nā Hone.
A chocolate cake of John’s.
The personal pronouns, nāku/nōku, nāu/nōu and nāna/nōna that you have learnt in previous exercises can be combined with these sentences to explain which individual the object belongs to.
He āporo nāku.
An apple of mine.
He hōiho nōna.
A horse of hers.
He hū nōu.
Shoe of yours.
Further explanations and exercises: Te Kākano pp. 41-42; Te Kākano Pukapuka Tātaki pp. 27-28
Whakamāoritia ngā rerenga kōrero Pākehā e whai ake nei.
Translate the following English sentences into Māori.
Hei tauira:
These kūmara are tasty.
He māngaro ēnei kūmara.
