Ngā Tohutohu
He whakamārama
In the textbook and study guide for Te Kākano you were introduced to various uses of the a and o categories. You will have practised a number of these. The exercise that follows highlights the use of the a category when the possessor is active in relation to the thing that is 'owned' and the o category when the possessor is passive in relation to the thing that is 'owned'.
The following examples will help you understand this aspect of the a and o categories.
He ātaahua te tuhituhi a Te Wharehuia.
Wharehuia's writing is beautiful.
In this example, Wharehuia is in control of the writing - he actually does the writing. IN other words, Wharehuia is active inr elation to the writing.
I kite ia i te patunga a te tamaiti weriweri i te ngeru.
He saw the horrible child's beating of the cat.
In this example, the child is in control of the beating of the cat.
He waiata tēnei mā te kapa haka.
This is a song for the performing group (to sing).
In this case, it is intended that the performing group will sing the song.
I kite ia i te patunga o te pīpī kiwi e te toriura.
She saw the killing of the kiwi chick by the stoat.
Here the kiwi chick is not in control of the killing, but the killing was done to it by something else, i.e. by the stoat. The kiwi chick is passive in relation to the killing.
He waiata tēnei mō Wiremu Kerekere
This is a song about Bill Kerekere.
Compare this example with the one at the top of the page. Mō is used in this case because Bill kerekere is not in control of the song. He is not signing or compsing it, i.e. he is not active in relation to the song.
Whiriwhiria te kupu e mau nei i ngā taieoa pewa e tika ana hei whakaī i ngā ango.
