§ 45.

It must be understood that the tenses of a Maori verb indicate the condition of the action, but do not, except in the case of the Past Indefinite and the Future, connote a time relationship. The Imperfect and Perfect may have a past, present, or future reference according to the context.

Examples.

• E huihui ana nga tangata, the men are assembling.

• Kua huihui nga tangata, the men have assembled.

• E huihui ana nga tangata inanahi, the men were assembling yesterday.

• Kua huihui nga tangata inanahi, the men had assembled yesterday.

• Apopo e huihui ana ratou, to-morrow they will be assembling.

• Apopo kua huihui ratou, to-morrow they will have assembled.

• Ka huihui ratou inanahi, they assembled (or began to assemble) yesterday.

• Ka huihui ratou apopo, they will assemble (or begin to assemble) to-morrow.

• Ka kore ahau e pupuri, I cease to hold.

• Te matenga o Tohi, ka kore a Pi e hanga i te whare, when Tohi died, Pi ceased to build the house.