Exercise Eight
Using tonu to indicate continuous action
One of the uses of tonu is to indicate that an action is still being carried out. It translates to mean ‘still’ when it is used in this context. Tonu is placed directly after the verb in the sentence. Look at the following examples which demonstrate its use:
| E mahi tonu ana ahau. | I am still working. |
| Kei te māuiui tonu tōku whaea. | My mother is still sick. |
| Kei te haere tonu mai a Ana ki tō tāua kāinga. | Ana is still coming to our house. |
| Kei te whakaoti tonu ngā ākonga i ā rātou mahi kāinga. | The students are still completing their homework. |
Further explanations and exercises: Te Kākano p. 57; Te Aka
Whakamāoritia ngā rerenga kōrero.
Don’t forget to use commas, question marks, and fullstops and macrons where appropriate (ā,ē,ī,ō, and ū).
The visitors are still coming.
Ata is still waiting for the bus.
We (3 people excluding listener) are still learning the Māori language.
The jug is still boiling.
(hū = to boil)
He is still annoying his little brother.
(whakahōhā = to annoy, irritate, bother)
They (3 or more people) are still playing tennis.
They (2 people) are still eating their icecreams.
They (2 people) are still fighting.