āna / ōna
Their Plural Possessions
Āna and ōna refer to plural items belonging to one third person.
How It Works
Āna pukapuka means that person’s books. Ōna hoa means that person’s friends. The possessor remains one person even when many items are possessed.
For two possessors, use ā rāua or ō rāua followed by the noun. Neutral ana can also accompany a noun; it is distinct from marked āna and from the aspect particle ana in a verbal frame.
Examples (3)
- Kei konei āna pukapuka.
Their books are here (one possessor).
- Kei te haere ōna hoa.
Their friends are going (one possessor).
- He pai ōna kākahu.
Their clothes are nice (one possessor).
How It Connects
Learn This First
Introduce several items related to one third person. Preserve marked āna and distinguish neutral noun-accompanying ana by its frame; the later verbal ana construction need not be introduced before reading these possessive phrases.
- tāna / tōnaTheir Possession for One Person
Singular third-person possession establishes the gender-neutral possessor and marked-versus-neutral distinction carried into āna, ōna and ana.
Level 2 - āku / ōkuMy Plural Possessions
The plural first-person lesson establishes plural possessed items with an unchanged singular possessor, providing the number comparison for this third-person pair.
Level 2
Related Patterns
Practice āna / ōna in Bubblegum
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