Exercise Eight
Saying ‘just like’
Rite tonu tō mātou whare ki tō koutou
Saying something is just like something els
Making a comparison between something or someone else is used by using the word rite, this is often combined with the word tonu to further emphasise the similarity.
Tauira:
Rite tonu tērā motokā ki tōku. That car is like mine.
Rite tonu ahau ki te pūru. I am like a bull.
Note that when comparing the word ki or ki te is used in between the two things you are comparing. Te can be replaced with the proper possessive as seen in the following examples:
Tauira:
Rite tonu tēnei putiputi ki tōku whaiāipo.
This flower is like my darling.
To further say that someone is like someone else in the way they do things, you add on a statement beginning with ki te at the end of the sentence, as in the following examples.
Tauira:
Rite tonu ahau ki te kurī ki te kai. I eat like a dog.
Rite tonu a Hariata ki te manu ki te waiata. Hariata sings like a bird.
For further explanations and examples see Te Pihinga p. 26
Whakamāoritia, whakapākehātia rānei, ngā rerenga kōrero e whai ake nei.
Translate the following sentences into Māori, or English
Don’t forget to use commas, question marks, and fullstops and macrons where appropriate (ā,ē,ī,ō, and ū).
These shoes are like hers.
Those hats are like mine.
She is like her mother.
My father is like yours.
Rite tonu a Pita ki te tamaiti ki te tangi.
Rite tonu taku kurī ki tāu.
Rite tonu ia ki tōna tuakana.
Rite tonu tōku māmā ki te tohunga ki te tunu kai.