First Lessons in Maori

V. Adjectives

V. Adjectives.

§ 23. Position.

An adjective always stands after the noun which it qualifies.

Examples.
  • He whare pai, a good house.

  • Tana kuri nui, his large dog.

§ 24.

By doubling the di-syllabic root, or sometimes only the first syllable of the root, of an adjective, the intensity of its signification is diminished, thus:

  • Wera, hot.

  • Werawera, somewhat hot, warm.

  • Maroke, dry.

  • Mārokeroke, somewhat dry.

  • Pango, black.

  • Papango, somewhat black, dark.

In the case of a few adjectives a plural is formed by doubling the first syllable of the root, thus:

  • He rakau nui, a large tree.

  • He rakau nunui, large trees.

  • He tangata roa, a tall man.

  • He tāngata roroa, tall men.

The simple form is, however, often used for the plural as well as the singular.

§ 26.

When two or more adjectives are used to qualify the same noun, repeat the noun with each, or substitute mea for the noun after the first time.

Examples.
  • He whare kowhatu, he whare pai, a good stone house.

  • He kowhatu nui, he mea taimaha, a large heavy stone.

§ 27. Abstract Quality

is expressed by the adjective treated as a noun, thus:

Pai, good. Te pai, the goodness.
Roa, long. Te roa, the length.