tētahi / ētahi

One or Some

Level 1

Tētahi singles out one; ētahi introduces some.

How It Works

Tētahi pukapuka introduces one particular book without making it the already established book. Ētahi pukapuka introduces some books. The contrast is singular versus plural.

When a set has already been discussed, these forms may pick another member or other members. Let that context guide the English translation. Do not translate every occurrence as another when no earlier item is being contrasted.

Examples (3)

Kei te pānui au i tētahi pukapuka.
I am reading a book.
Kei te tākaro ētahi tamariki.
Some children are playing.
Homai tētahi pene.
Give me a pen.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

tētahi / ētahiLevel 1One or Some

Learn This First

Introduce tētahi for an individual and ētahi for some members. An already discussed set can support “another” or “others,” but the forms do not require that translation in every context.

ngā + nounThe Plural Article
The definite singular–plural article contrast gives a useful baseline for distinguishing one particular but unestablished book from some books with tētahi and ētahi.
Level 1

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

ētahi ... ētahiSome and OthersLevel 5

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