Their uses will be best ascertained by examining the paradigm at the end of this section. A more full consideration of them and of the other modes of construction, which are therein contained, will be deferred to the Syntax.
As the voice of the verb but little affects its conjugation, we have not thought it necessary to make any separate head for the different voices; but have represented all in the one table.
The student, however, is recommended to read our remarks on the passive voice before he proceeds to examine into the tenses.
§. 6. It may be naturally expected that, in an unpolished language like Maori, there should not be much that is artificial, or complicated, in the arrangement of tenses. Such we believe to be the case. It is true that some would contend for as many tenses as may be found in English; but, independently of the improbability of such a thing, we believe that a careful investigation will lead the inquirer to the arrangement which we have adopted; viz. the present, the past, and the future.
It is true that other tenses may sometimes be met with which are accurately defined; but we cannot admit them a distinct place in the modifications of the simple verb; because such forms are always compound, or depend, at least, for their meaning upon the construction, and belong more properly to the syntax than to this part of the grammar.
§ 7. In examining into the time of a verb, it will often be very necessary for the student to notice whether the sentence, in which it is contained, is simple, or compound; a simple sentence[12] is that which consists of only one time; e. g.
- E pai ana, it is good.
- Kahore ahau i kite, I did not see (it).
- Ko tatou katoa, ano he hipi, kua marara ke, we all as sheep have gone astray.
- Kua mate to tatou Kai whakaora i runga i te te ripeka, our Saviour died upon the cross.
A compound sentence is that in which two times are introduced; e. g.
- Me i reira ahau e pai ana, if I had been there it would have been well.
- Akuanei, tae rawa atu, kua mate, it will come to pass, that, when I have got there, he will be dead.
- Kua mate ahau, e ora ana nga rakau nei, I shall die before these sticks decay.
- Me i whakararatatia i mua, kua rarata, tenei, if it had been tamed before, it would have been tame now.
Of this, however, more hereafter.