ngā + noun

The Plural Article

Level 1

Ngā marks a definite plural noun phrase.

How It Works

Compare te whare, the house, with ngā whare, the houses. Number is carried by the article, so whare does not gain an English plural ending.

Some common people words change their base or vowel length in the plural. Ngā tamariki uses tamariki, and ngā tāngata uses a long first vowel. Keep these lexical forms alongside the article.

Examples (3)

Kei konei ngā pukapuka.
The books are here.
Kei te moe ngā tamariki.
The children are sleeping.
He whero ngā whare.
The houses are red.

How It Connects

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ngā + nounLevel 1The Plural Article

Learn This First

Extend definite noun phrases to two or more referents with ngā. Preserve exceptional lexical plurals such as tamariki and tāngata alongside the article rather than treating every noun as unchanged.

te + nounThe Singular Article
The established singular phrase te whare provides the direct comparison for ngā whare, showing that the article changes while the ordinary noun base remains.
Level 1

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Patterns that build on this one.

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