Ā and ō categories

Nā nga whakamārama a ngā kaumātua, ka mōhio tātou ki ngā tikanga
More about the ā and ō categories

The ā and ō categories are a hard concept to understand but by now you should be able to use them correctly in most situations. Here is some more information to help you try and grasp the ā and ō categories. The use of verbs as nouns is sometimes called nominalisation. Take a look at the following examples of transitive and experience verbs.

Transitive verbs, when they are used as nouns, take the ā category.

Nā te whakamārama a te kaiwhakaako, ka mōhio ngā ākonga me pēhea tā rātou mahi.

It was because of the teacher’s explanation that the students knew how their work should be done.

Nā te kī a te kaikōrero, me waiata ngā manuhiri i tā rātou ake waiata .

Because of what the speaker said, the visitors should sing their own song.

Experience verbs, even though they are like transitive verbs in having an object, generally take the ō category when they are used as nouns.

Nō te kitenga ake o te tangata whenua i te ope, ka hui rātou ki mua o te wharenui.

When the locals saw the visiting party they gathered in front of the meeting house.

Nō te tīmatanga o te karakia me nohopuku ngā tamariki.

From the beginning of the service the children should be quiet.

For further explanations and examples see Te Pihinga p.149 & 166

Whakakīa ngā āputa ki te ‘a’, ki te ‘o’ rānei kia tika ai te rerenga kōrero.
Fill the gaps with either a or o so that the sentence is correct.