Chapter 19: The Interrogative II

Question 1

What are the three ways to ask the question “why”?

Answer 1

1. nō te aha... ai
Nō te aha te fenua 'i haumi ai?
Why is the ground wet?
2. 'e aha... ai (more colloquial)
Why are you swimming?
’E aha tēra ta’ata 'i parahi noa ai?
Why is that man still sitting down?
3. 'e aha te tumu... ai (for what reason?)
’E aha te tumu rātou 'i tae mai ai 'i ’onei?
Why have they come here?

Question 2

What happens to non-verbal sentences when the question “why?” is asked?

Answer 2

They become verbalized.

Question 3

What is the special construction for the negative interrogative?

Answer 3

‘ore ai ‘e + verb (why not?)
Nō te aha ’oe ’e ’ore ai ’e ‘āu?
Why don’t you swim?

Question 4

What is the normal method for asking “where?”?

Answer 4

tei hea + noun
tei hea te fare toa?
Where is the shop?

Question 5

What are the two ways to ask “where?” with past tense verbal sentences?

Answer 5

1. ‘i hea/tei hea + ‘i te + verb + -ra’a
2. ‘i hea/tei hea + possessive adjective + verb + -ra’a
   ‘I hea ’ona ‘i te ’āura’a ’inanahi?
   Where did he swim yesterday?
   ‘I hea ’ona ‘i te tahunara’a ‘i te puta?
   Where did he hide the book?
   ‘I hea tō ’oe vaihora ’a ‘i te puta ?
   Where did you put the book?

Question 6

How do you ask “where?” with future and present tense verbal sentences?

Answer 6

‘i hea/’ei hea + subject + ‘e + verb… ai
‘I hea ’ona ’e āu ai?
Where will he swim?

Question 7

How do you ask “where to?”

Answer 7

Simply place ‘i hea after the verb.

‘e haere ‘oe ‘i hea? Where are you going?

Question 8

How do you ask “where from?”

Answer 8

Usually in a non-verbal way.
Mai hea mai ‘oe? Where do you come from?
Nō hea tēra pahi? Where is that boat from?

Question 9

How do you ask “when” with the future tense?

Answer 9

afea/ahea/anafea + future tense + ai
Anafea ’oia ’e reva ai? When will he leave?
Afea rätou ’e ta’oto ai? When will they sleep?
Afea ’o ’oe ’e ho’i mai ai? When will you come back?

Question 10

How do you ask “when” with the past tense?

Answer 10

inafea/’i anafea + past tense + ai
‘Inafea ’oia ‘i reva ātu ai?.
When did he leave?

Question 11

How do you ask “when” without tense distinction?

Answer 11

‘e aha te taime… ai

E aha te taime ’ona ‘i ta’iri ai ‘i te ’uri?

Question 12

What is the first method for asking “how”?

Answer 12

1. 'ua nafea/'e nafea/te nafea ra + subject + 'i te +verb
(past, future, present)
’Ua nafea rātou ’i te rave?
How did they do it?
'E nafea rātou ’i te rave?
How will they do it?
Te nafea ra ’oe 'i te hanianira’a 'i te fare?
How are you building the house?

Question 13

What is the second method for asking “how”?

Answer 13

2. ‘e mea nafea/’e nafea/te nafea ra + tō/tā + subject + verb + -ra’a.
   (When the tō form is used the nuance of the question is “how did you manage to?”, while the tā form is more direct, and expects an answer of the type “with an axe,
   with a hammer”.)
   Te nafea ra tō ’oe hamanira’a ‘i te fare?
   How are you building the house?
   ’E mea nafea tā rātou ravera’a ?
   How did they do it?

Question 14

How is the question “what?” asked in non-verbal sentences?

Answer 14

By ‘e aha plus noun, pronoun, or demonstrative.
’E aha tēra? What is that?
’E aha tēra tumu rā’au? What is that tree?

Question 15

How is the question “what?” asked in verbal sentences?

Answer 15

'e aha + the possessive adjective + verb.
E aha tā ’oe ’e rave ra?
What are you doing there?
’E aha tā ’oe ’e hi’o ra ?
What are you looking at there?

Question 16

What is the idiomatic expression for “what are you doing?’’, “how will you be fixed?”?

Answer 16

Te aha na ’oe?
What are you doing?
‘i aha na ’oe ?
How were you?