CHAP. III.] THE GRAMMAR. 3*29 



SINGULAR. 



Norn. Te manu the bird. 



Gen. No (or na, or o, or a) te manu . of the bird. 



Dai. Ki te manu to the bird. 



Ace. Te manu the bird. 



Voc. E te manu O bird. 



, Abl. I (or e) te manu from the bird. 



PLURAL. 



Nom. Nga manu the birds. 



Gen. No (or na, or o, or a) nga manu . of the birds. 



Dat. Ki nga manu to the birds. 



Ace. Nga manu . the birds. 



Voc. E nga manu birds. 



Abl. I (or e) nga manu from the birds. 



The change of the vowels o and a in the article depends 

 upon euphony, i. e., upon the vowel that precedes or follows 

 the article. Perhaps o or a is originally the singular form 

 and nga the plural. 



If the indefinite article is expressed by tetahi, it is declined 

 in the same manner. 



SINGULAR. 



Nom. Tetahi ika . . . . . . . some fish. 



Gen. No (or o, or a) tetahi ika . . . of some fish. 



Dat. Ki tetahi ika to some fish. 



Ace. Tetahi ika some fish. . 



Voc. E tetahi ika O fish. 



Abl. I (or e) tetahi ika from some fish. 



PLURAL. 



Nom. Nga tetahi ika some fishes. 



Gen. No (or na, or o, or a) tetahi ika . of some fishes. 



Dat. Ki nga tetahi ika to some fishes. 



Ace. Nga tetahi ika some fishes. 



Voc. E nga tetahi ika O fishes. 



Abl. I (or e) nga tetahi ika ... from some fishes. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



1. JVb or o of the genitive case is generally used for de- 

 noting possession ; thus : 



Etako's house te ware o Etako. 



