Ngā Tohutohu
As well as being used to indicate continuous action, tonu is also used to give emphasis. It is usually translated in this context as ‘just’, ‘really’ or ‘only’. Sometimes it just adds emphasise and force to the sentence and the subject of discussion without translating into an actual word.
Hei tauira:
| E hia ōu pōtae? |
How many hats do you have? |
| Kotahi tonu. |
Just one. |
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| Mā wai ngā rīhi e horoi? |
Who will wash the dishes? |
| Māku tonu. |
I will (wash them) myself. |
Whiriwhirihia te rerenga kōrero Pākehā e tika ana mō ia rerenga kōrero Māori.
