First Lessons in Maori
§ 45
§ 45.
It must be understood that the tenses of a Maori verb indicate the condition of the action, but do not, except in the case of the Past Indefinite and the Future, connote a time relationship. The Imperfect and Perfect may have a past, present, or future reference according to the context.
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E huihui ana nga tangata, the men are assembling.
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Kua huihui nga tangata, the men have assembled.
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E huihui ana nga tangata inanahi, the men were assembling yesterday.
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Kua huihui nga tangata inanahi, the men had assembled yesterday.
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Apopo e huihui ana ratou, to-morrow they will be assembling.
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Apopo kua huihui ratou, to-morrow they will have assembled.
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Ka huihui ratou inanahi, they assembled (or began to assemble) yesterday.
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Ka huihui ratou apopo, they will assemble (or begin to assemble) to-morrow.
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Ka kore ahau e pupuri, I cease to hold.
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Te matenga o Tohi, ka kore a Pi e hanga i te whare, when Tohi died, Pi ceased to build the house.