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A Grammar and Vocabulary of the Language of New Zealand.

Syntax

Syntax.

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The Nominative Case and the Verb.

The Nominative Case agrees with and follows the Verb; as,

  • E tóene ra óki te ra, The sun proceeds forward.

  • E rére ána te mánu, The bird flies.

  • E aróha ána nga matúa, The parents love.

  • E aire ána máua, ko Táka, I and Táka move.

  • E e óki mai ána te táua, The army is coming back.

Note.—In the last four sentences, the ra óki is omitted by the ellipse.

Substantive and Adjective.

The Adjective follows the Substantive; as,

E tángata pai, A good man.
E ngákau kíno, A bad heart.

Adjectives sometimes precede the substantive; as,

  • Ka róa (ra óki) te po, Long is the night.

  • E núi te pai o ténei méa, Very good is this thing.

  • Pai ráwa tóu ánga, Exceeding good is thy work.

Sometimes the Adjective denoting the particular properties of a Substantive is expressed alone; the Substantive to which it refers being understood; as,

  • E kúere, An ignorant, unskilful man;—the word tángata being understood.

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  • E tohúnga, A skilful person; as, A priest, An architect, &c.

  • E tóa, A courageous man.

  • E hóha, A generous person.

Of the Substantive and the Possessive Pronoun.

The Possessive Pronoun is placed either before or after the Substantive; as,

  • Táku tamaiti, My son; or E tamaiti náku, A son of mine.

  • Tóku matúa, My parent; or, E matúa nóku, A parent of mine.

  • To tátu wáre, Our house; or, E wáre no tátu &c.

  • Kóa máte ke tóku matúa táne, me tóku matúa wahíne; My father and mother are dead.

The Dative Case Signifying Acquisition.

  • O mai ki 'au, Produce to me.

  • Móku te táhi tóki, For me one axe, or Give me an axe.

  • Móu tenei tóki, For thee this axe, or Take this axe.

  • E tángata ngákau núi ki te wawáhi, A man who has a fearless disposition for disputation.

The Accusative Case and the Verb.

  • Kaua hei Atúa ke móu, Take not a strange God to thee.

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  • E aróha ána 'au ki á koe, I love thee.

  • Waka e óki mai tóu ponónga ki 'au, Return thy servant to me.

Space, Measure, Time, and Place.

  • Ke tawíti, ko táhi ra ka aire, ka tai; The distance is (that) of one day's journey.

  • E wai kédi, e óno te róa o te hohónu; A ditch six fathoms deep.

  • Ki te po, e kóre e kitéa te kanóhi; In the night the eye cannot see.

  • E tángi po ána ra óki te wahíne á ka áo te ra, kamútu; The woman cries during the night, at day-break ceases.

  • E'aha ra nei te máhinga máku kei Ingland? What shall I work at in England?

  • No Niw Zíland ra óki ía, He is from New Zealand.

  • Ko Niw Zíland ra óki ía, He is going to New Zealand.

  • Kei úta tóku káinga, My residence is in the interior.

  • Aire ra óki koe ki tóu wáre, Go to thy house.