Plural possessive determiners part 1

Showing possession using tā tātou, tō tātou (your (2+) and my, our), tā mātou, tō mātou (their and my), tā koutou, tō koutou (your 3+ people), tā rātou, tō rātou (their 3+ people)

In Kōwae 8 you have learnt to use dual possessive determiners, now it is time to learn the plural possessive determiner forms. All the rules of dual possessive determiners apply to the plural forms. However, when using plural possessive determiners there are three or more people possessing one or more things. In the table below are the plural determiners which are used when referring to one thing.

Notice how the English ‘our’ has two possible translations in Māori using plural possessive determiners.

In the above sentences three or more people possess only one thing. In possessive determiner sentences when the first t is retained there is only one object being possessed, when the first t is omitted there is more than one thing being possessed.

Hei tauira:

You must use the ā and ō categories to establish the relationship between the possessor and the thing being possessed. Remember if the possessor has control of the relationship or is dominant, active or superior to what is being possessed then the ā category is used.

If the possessor has no control of the relationship or is subordinate, passive or inferior to what is possessed then the ōcategory is used, as shown in the above examples.

For further explanations and examples see Te Kākano pp. 52-56, 140-142; Te Kākano CDs Mahi 51-54; and Te Aka.

Whiriwhirihia te kupu tika hei whakakī i ia āputa.