Editing Māori language (section)

=== Bases ===
Biggs (1998) developed an analysis that the basic unit of Māori speech is the phrase rather than the word.{{sfn|Biggs|1998|page=3}} The lexical word forms the "base" of the phrase. Biggs identifies five types of bases.

'''Noun''' bases include those bases that can take a definite article, but cannot occur as the nucleus of a verbal phrase; for example: {{lang|mi|ika}} (fish) or {{lang|mi|rākau}} (tree).{{sfn|Biggs|1998|pages=54–55}} Plurality is marked by various means, including the definite article (singular {{lang|mi|te}}, plural {{lang|mi|ngā}}),{{sfn|Bauer|1997|pages=144–147}} deictic particles {{lang|mi|tērā rākau}} (that tree), {{lang|mi|ērā rākau}} (those trees),{{sfn|Bauer|1997|pages=153–154}} possessives {{lang|mi|taku whare}} (my house), {{lang|mi|aku whare}} (my houses).{{sfn|Bauer|1997|pages=394–396}} A few nouns lengthen a vowel in the plural, such as {{lang|mi|wahine}} (woman); {{lang|mi|wāhine}} (women).{{sfn|Bauer|1997|page=160}} In general, bases used as qualifiers follow the base they qualify, e.g. "matua wahine" (mother, female elder) from "matua" (parent, elder) "wahine" (woman).{{sfn|Biggs|1998|page=153}}

'''Universal''' bases are verbs which can be used passively. When used passively, these verbs take a passive form. Biggs gives three examples of universals in their passive form: {{transliteration|mi|inumia}} (drunk), {{transliteration|mi|tangihia}} (wept for), and {{lang|mi|kīa}} (said).{{sfn|Biggs|1998|page=55}}

'''Stative''' bases serve as bases usable as verbs but not available for passive use, such as ''ora'', alive or ''tika'', correct.{{sfn|Biggs|1998|page=55}} Grammars generally refer to them as "stative verbs". When used in sentences, statives require different syntax than other verb-like bases.{{sfn|Biggs|1998|pages=23–24}}

'''Locative''' bases can follow the locative particle ''ki'' (to, towards) directly, such as ''runga'', above, ''waho'', outside, and placenames (''ki Tamaki'', to Auckland).{{sfn|Biggs|1998|page=57}}

'''Personal''' bases take the personal article ''a'' after ''ki'', such as names of people (''ki a Hohepa'', to Joseph), personified houses, personal pronouns, ''wai?'' who? and ''mea'', so-and-so.{{sfn|Biggs|1998|page=57}}