inanahi / āpōpō

Yesterday and Tomorrow

Level 2

Use inanahi for yesterday and āpōpō for tomorrow.

How It Works

In the supported patterns, these day expressions occur directly, without an immediately preceding i te or ā te. This differs from noun-based clock-time phrases such as ā te ono karaka, ‘at six o’clock’ in a future setting. A day expression can follow the event or come first to establish its time.

The yesterday examples contrast simple i, which reports a past event, with i te, which presents an activity in progress. Both retain the same day setting. In the tomorrow examples, āpōpō gives the ka event future reference.

The verbal base does not acquire tense or subject-agreement endings. Māua excludes the addressee and denotes two people; tātou includes the addressee and denotes three or more. Preserve both macrons in āpōpō.

Examples (4)

  1. I tuhi a Niko i te reta inanahi.

    Niko wrote the letter yesterday.

    Inanahi supplies the day of the past event.

  2. I te mahi māua inanahi.

    The two of us, excluding you, were working yesterday.

    The past activity is presented as ongoing.

  3. Ka hoki a Niko āpōpō.

    Niko will return tomorrow.

    Tomorrow establishes future reference.

  4. Āpōpō ka mahi tātou.

    Tomorrow we, including you, will work.

    The time expression precedes the predicate; tātou denotes three or more.

How It Connects

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

inanahi / āpōpōLevel 2Yesterday and Tomorrow

Learn This First

Contrast yesterday and tomorrow as direct day expressions. Their calendar setting stays separate from the event viewpoint, and these patterns do not add i te or ā te immediately before the day adverb.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.