Ngā Tohutohu
Mā and mō are used to indicate future possession. These two terms often translate as ‘for’. The rules of a and o also apply when using mā and mō.
| Kei te haere a Hare ki te toa mō tōna māmā. |
Harry is going to the store for his mum. |
| I tunua ngā kai mō te hui. |
The food was prepared for the meeting. |
| Mā ngā tamariki ngā perehana nei. |
These presents are for the children. |
| Waiho ngā toenga kai mā ngā poaka. |
Leave the left over food for the pigs. |
| Mō Pita ēnei kākahu. |
These clothes are for Peter. |
It should be noted that personal names and nouns are used with mā and mō.
Mā and mō should be followed directly by personal names, while nouns should have words such as te, ngā, tēnei, taku, tō mātou, etc. in front of them and do not follow mā and mō directly. Dual and plural pronouns are also used in conjunction with mā and mō.
| Kei te tunu kai a Maria mā koutou. |
Marie is cooking food for you all. |
| Haria atu koa ngā pereti nei mā māua. |
Can you please take our plates up too. |
| Mā rātou ngā rāpihi e kohi. |
They will pick up the rubbish. |
When only one person will achieve possession, the words māku and mōku (for me), māu and mōu (for you) and māna andmōna (for her/for him) are used.
| Māu ngā rīhi e horoi. |
You can wash the dishes. |
| Māku te inu reka, mōu te wai, māna te pia. |
I'll have the sweet drink, you have the water and he'll have the beer. |
Further explanations and exercises: Te Kākano pp. 64, 65
Whiriwhirihia te rerenga kōrero e tika ana.
