a
1. (particle) of, belonging to - used when the possessor has, or had, control of the relationship or is dominant, active or superior to what is possessed. Thus, in most contexts in a sentence, moveable property, tools, things made by humans, food, drink (except water for drinking), husband (tāne), wife (wahine), lover (whaiāipo), children, grandchildren, people in an inferior position, plants and animals, pets and crops, and work are likely to take the a category. If the possessor is active towards the possessed the a category will also be used, including when derived nouns are used this way.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 54-55, 108-109, 140-141; Te Kākano Study Guide (Ed. 1): 2, 16, 23, 33-34, 36; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 166-167; Te Pihinga Study Guide (Ed. 1): 166-167; Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 113, 178-179;)
Nā te whakamārama a te kaiako, ka mōhio a Pio me pēhea tana mahi. / It was thanks to the teacher's explanation that Pio knew how his work should be done.
Areare ō taringa ki te tangi a te pīpīwharauroa (Te Ara 2015). / Open your ears to the call of the shining cuckoo.
Nō te taenga mai a Te Mōkena ki runga ka hoatu ngā pū māna (TWM 1/7/1865:1). / When Mr Morgan arrived in the south he was given guns.
