Ngā Tohutohu
Nei, nā, rā and ai are used in relative clauses. Note how they are used in the following examples.
Hei tauira:
| Kei te pōhēhē rātou ko Pita tērā e tū mai rā. |
They are mistaken in thinking that that person standing over there is Peter. |
| Kei reira tonu te pahi e tatari mai rā. |
The bus that was waiting is still there. |
| Ko Mere tēnei e kōrero atu nei ki a koutou. |
This is Mary who is talking to you all. |
| Kei hea te pukapuka i tuhia nā e koe? |
Where is the book that you wrote? |
| Ko tēnei te whare e tū ai te hui. |
This is the building where the meeting will be held. |
It should be noted that ai is only used for past or future time in this usage, never for the present. Nei, nā, and rā may be used for past time (when they combine with i), present or future (when they combine with e). The usage of these terms is based on the physical or mental orientation of the speaker and listener(s). Note the manner particles (e.g. tonu, kē, rawa and noa) and the words indicating direction (i.e. mai, atu, iho and ake) will precede nei, nā, rā and ai.
Further explanations, examples and exercises see Te Kākano pp. 28-29, 120; Te Kākano Pukapuka Tātaki pp. 69-70.
Whiriwhiria te whakautu tika.
