Kei te tākaro ngā tamariki (The children are playing)
Scenario
In this scenario, the children are playing tag. A taniwha (who’s been hiding behind a rock observing) joins in the game by chasing the children. They end up playing string games together!
Language Focus
The main language focus is the present tense verbal particle ‘Kei te ...’ – used here with the verbs, for example, tākaro (play) and oma (play).
You will also notice the question starter ‘Kei hea ...’ (‘Where is/are ... ’) – and the preposition ‘Kei muri’ (‘behind’).
Transcript and Translation
| Speaker | Māori | English |
| Rōpū tamariki (off-screen) | Kei te tākaro ngā tamariki. | The children are playing. |
| Rōpū tamariki (off-screen) | Kei te oma a Te Awarangi rāua ko Mere. He tere a Mere ki te oma. | Te Awarangi and Mere are running. Mere is fast at running. |
| Rōpū tamariki (off-screen) | Kei hea ia? | Where is she? |
| Rōpū tamariki (off-screen) | Kei muri i te toka. | Behind the rock. |
| Te Awarangi | Kei konei koe! | Here you are! |
| Rōpū tamariki (off-screen) | Kua tae mai a Piripi. Kei muri a Piripi i te toka.Aue! He taniwha kē.Kei te oma hoki te taniwha. | Piripi’s arrived. Piripi is behind the rock. Oh! A taniwha instead. The taniwha also runs. |
| Rōpū tamariki (off-screen) | Kei hea te taniwha? | Where’s the taniwha? |
| Rōpū tamariki (off-screen) | Kei te tākaro te taniwha me ngā tamariki. | The taniwha is playing with the children. |
