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First Lessons in Maori
§ 39
§ 39.
When the predicate consists of several words, the most emphatic word generally stands alone in the place of the predicate, the rest being placed after the subject. This is the case when the predicate contains an explanatory or a relative clause, or a clause in any other way dependent on the principal word. This also accounts for the apparent reversing of the positions of subject and predicate in a negative sentence, the negation being the most prominent thing in such a sentence.
Examples.
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He tangata tenei no Akaroa, this is a man from Akaroa.
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Ko te tama tera a Turi, that is the son of Turi.
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He kai kei reira ma te tamaiti a Kuiwai, there is some food there for Kuiwai's child.
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Ko te tangata tera i kitea e ahau, that is the man who was seen by me.