If you asked me if I want a cup of tea, but I already have one, I might say: no thank you, i have a cup of tea.
In te reo maori, if I answered
He kaputī ahau
I wouldn't be saying I have a cup of tea. I would be saying I AM a cup of tea.
"I am a cup of tea" (breathes deeply)
I am one with the universe and cups of tea everywhere.
But if I want to say that I HAVE a cup of tea, I need to use a possessive
He kaputī tªku.
I have a cup of tea.
And if I have more than one, because I'm thirsty
He kaputī ªku.
I have cups of tea.
So the word for an older brother of a male is tuakana.
If I am an older brother to a male, i would say
He tuakªnª ahau.
I am an older sibling.
But if I have an older brother
I would say
He tuakªnª tªku.
And if I have two older brothers- and I do - i would say
He tuākªnª ªku.
And note that tuakana becomes tuākªnª
It's like other words that are about family relationships and people that have a lengthened vowel in the plural
Like one wªhinɛ
Two wāhinɛ
One tªngªtª
Two tāngªtª.
In the same way
One tuakªnª
Two tuākªnª
So if I have a pen
He pene tªku
If I have two pens
He pene ªku
If she has a book
He pukapuka tªnª
If she has lots of books
He pukapuka ªnª
So if I want to tell you about things I have
Well..
He rɔrɔhikɔ tªku
I have a computer
He wªkª tªku
I have a car
He hɔa ªku
I have friends
He moenga tªku
I have a bed
He pōtae ªku
I have hats, because I have more than one
He waea tªku
I have a phone
And if I think about my friend
He kurī tªnª
She has a dog
He tamariki ªnª
She has children
He whªrɛ tawhito ªnª
She has an old house
He rākau ªnª
She has trees
He Heihei ªnª
She has chickens.
He kīhini ātaahua tªnª
She has a beautiful kitchen
He mārª tªnª
She has a garden
He putiputi tªnª
She has flowers
He ngeru ªnª
She has cats. More than one.
She likes cats.
She's a cat person.
He cat person ia.
He tangata ngeru ia.
Maybe.