tērā / tēnā

Referring to a Point Already Mentioned

Level 4

Recover the conversational idea or event identified by the demonstrative.

How It Works

Tēnā can pick up a conversational claim or an activity already mentioned. Tērā can refer back to a described occasion. These uses include conversational rejection, temporal reference and reference to a school's opening day.

A singular demonstrative presents its referent as one item. A suggestion involving several actions can therefore be assessed as one proposal. This does not establish a fixed rule choosing the demonstrative solely according to who spoke last. The conversation must make the intended reference recoverable.

Compare He whakaaro pai tēnā, assessing a suggestion, with I mua i tēnā, locating an action before a mentioned activity. The first classifies conversational content; the second uses it as a temporal reference. He rā nui tērā identifies a described occasion. These are ordinary written demonstratives: preserve their macrons, and use the corresponding plural forms when identifying separate plural referents.

Examples (3)

  1. He whakaaro pai tēnā.

    That is a good idea.

    Tēnā identifies a suggestion supplied by the conversation.

  2. I mua i tēnā, me horoi ngā ringa.

    Before that, we should wash our hands.

    An already mentioned activity supplies the temporal reference; the understood participants come from context.

  3. I whakatuwherahia te whare hou inanahi. He rā nui tērā mō tō mātou whānau.

    The new building was opened yesterday. That was an important day for our family.

    Tērā identifies the opening day; mātou excludes the addressee.

How It Connects

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

tērā / tēnāLevel 4Referring to a Point Already Mentioned

Learn This First

Extend demonstrative reference to suggestions, activities and occasions recoverable from conversation. A proposal containing several actions can count as one referent; the choice is not determined solely by who spoke last.