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First Lessons in Maori

§ 73. Whom, or which

§ 73. Whom, or which.

—When the relative in English is governed by a verb or by one of these prepositions: by, on, at, in, with, by-means-of, on-account-of, by-reason-of, the verb in the relative clause is followed by nei, na, ra or ai, without a preposition; and in the imperfect tense ana after the verb is omitted. Use ai with the past and future only; and with the present use nei, na, or ra, according to the position of the thing spoken of; nei, if it is near or connected with the speaker; na, if it is near or connected with the person spoken to; and ra, if it is not near or connected with either.

Examples.
  • Te whare e hanga na koe, the house which you are building.

  • Te wahi e noho nei a Pomare, the place at which Pomare is now living.

  • Te mea e raru ai ahau, the thing by means of which I shall be perplexed.

  • Te wai i tineia ai te ahi, the water with which the fire was quenched.

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