CHAP. V.J THE GRAMMAR. 337 



by merely adding a particle ; and from the verbs not only 

 its abstract substantive, but, also the causative verb and its 

 abstract substantive can be formed. Although not strictly 

 belonging to this place, it will not be amiss to mention 

 that the abstract substantive is formed from the verb and 

 causative verb by the words nga, tanga, or ranga, or kanga. 

 An example will illustrate this etymology in the shortest 

 manner : 



Marama . . Subst. . . moon, light. 

 Adj. . . light, clear. 

 Adv. . . peacefully, clearly. 



Marama ana . Verb . . . to be light. 



Maramatanga . Abstr. sub. . light. 



Wakamarama . Cans, verb . to enlighten. 



Wakamaramatanga Abstr. cans. sub. enlightening. 



Matau . . . Adv. . . knowing, knowingly. 



Matau . . . Verb ... to know. 



Matauranga. . Subst. . . understanding. 



Wakamatau . Caus. verb . teach. 



Wakamatauranga Abst. cans. sub. doctrine. 

 In the formation of abstract substantives the New Zea- 

 land language is not of an inferior order, and at the same 

 time its derivations from one root are characterised by great 

 simplicity. Which of the three affixes is used depends upon 

 custom, perhaps upon a dialectic difference. The abstract 

 substantive very often signifies the time or the occasion when 

 an act is done. 



To return to the conjugation of verbs. 



Active Verb. 



MOODS AND TENSES. 



The present tense of the infinitive mood is nothing else 

 than the substantive ; thus : 



Kakino te tahae it is bad to steal, or bad 



is the theft. 



The past infinitive is formed by changing the construction : 

 Ka korero ia i kai ai tangata. . he acknowledged to have 



eaten human flesh. 

 VOL. II. Z 



