First Lessons in Maori

§ 37

§ 37.

Use the specific particle ko when the predicate is either

i. A proper name, or personal pronoun, a local noun ( § 8), or either of the interrogatives wai, or hea; or
ii. A common noun with any of the definitives ( § 18) except he.
Examples.
  • Ko ia tenei, this is he.

  • Ko wai tona ingoa? what is his name?

  • Ko Hamo tona ingoa, his name is Hamo.

  • Ko toku whare tera, that is my house.

  • Ko hea tera maunga? What is (the name of) that mountain?