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There are some words which describe an action that can be done on its own, without reference to anything else. For example, I can run. The word "run" is known as an "intransitive verb". There other words that describe an action that does relate to something else. While I can say "I am reading" or "I am singing", it is implied that I am reading something or singing something. I might be reading a book or singing a song. These kind of verbs are known as "transitive verbs".
When giving a command to a person to do something, if the verb is transitive, then we use a passive ending. For example:
Pānuihia!
Read!
Because the verb "read" is transitive (we read something), then the passive ending is used to make this word a command. This true of other words that are transitive.
Riringihia!
Pour!
Kohia ngā parapara.
Collect up the rubbish.
When giving commands, we do not use a passive ending for intransitive verbs. For example, the word "stand" is intransitive and so would simply say: e tu! to give someone the command to stand - it does not take a passive ending.
When giving commands using the passive, we do not use i or ki to identifty the object of the sentence. For example, we would say:
Tikina tō pōtae.
Fetch your hat
and not:
*Tikina i tō pōtae.*
Fetch your hat
Compare the following, where an active command uses ki but the passive command does not:
Titiro ki te mainga!
Look at the mountain!
Titirohia te mainga!
Look at the mountain!
Whakarerea ngā tūru ki roto i te rūma hui.
Leave the chairs in the meeting room.Tangohia tō hingareti!
Take off your singlet!Unuhia ki te uru tapu nui!
Draw on the superme sacredness!Kainga tāu āporo!
Eat your apple!Tīkina atu he huka.
Fetch some sugar.Inumia te wai!
Drink the water!Katia ngā ārai.
Shut the curtains.Ka tāpirihia ngā panana.
Add the banana.Whakapaitia tōu rūma moe.
Tidy your bedroom.Manaakitia ngā manuhiri ki te kai, ki te kōrero.
Look after the guests with food and good conversation.Mauria atu ērā oka!
Take those knives away!Kātia te kuaha kia kaua e uru mai te hau.
Close the door to prevent the wind from coming in.Tikina atu tāu pukapuka!
Go and get your book!Whakahanumitia ngā mea mākū.
Mix together the wet ingredients.Tīkina ngā taputapu i te rūma ki te hanga i te whare.
Fetch the tools from the room to build the house.Tikina tō pōtae.
Fetch your hat.Nekehia ki Kapiti!
Move to Kapiti!Hoatu ngā pukapuka ki runga i te papa pukapuka.
Put the books on the bookshelf.Pānuitia te pukapuka.
Read the book.Tātaihia!
Recite it!Inumia te miraka!
Drink the milk!Tangohia ō kākahu!
Take off your clothes!Whakatikahia te tēpu mō te kai.
Set the table for the meal.Whakahokia ngā rīhi ki te kāpata i muri i te kai.
Return the dishes to the cupboard after the meal.Tikina atu āu pukapuka!
Go and get your books!Arohatia te reo!
Love the language!Horoia ngā kanohi o ngā tamariki nohinohi!
Wash the little children's faces!Tukua ki te nūpepa!
Send it to the newspaper!Tangohia ō tōkena!
Take off your socks!Katia te kuaha.
Close the door.Hoatu te huka ki roto i te kāpata.
Put the sugar into the cupboard.Tapahia kia ono ngā topenga.
Cut it up into six slices.Katia te kuaha o te motokā.
Close the car door.Whakarongo!
Listen!Pupuritia taku ringaringa.
Hold my hand.Tīkina atu te pukapuka mai i te tēpu.
Fetch the book from the table.Kainga tō parakuihi!
Eat your breakfast!Tīkina tō pukapuka.
Fetch your book.Whakatikaina ēnei rerenga!
Correct these sentences.Me pukumahi koe.
You should work hard!Waruhia te kiri rēmana.
Grate the lemon rind.Homai ana pukapuka!
Give me her books!Whakairihia ngā kākahu ki runga i te rākau.
Hang the clothes on the line.Whāia te mātauranga!
Pursue education!Āwhinatia te ngeru kia piki ki runga i te tūru.
Help the cat climb onto the chair.Whakakāngia te umu.
Turn on the oven.Puritia ngā taha o te waka kei taka koe!
Hold on to the sides of the waka lest you fall!Waihotia ngā kai ki runga i te tēpu mō te rā whānau.
Leave the food on the table for the birthday.Haria ngā tamariki ki te kura i te ata.
Take the children to school in the morning.Tīkina ōu kākahu paru!
Fetch your dirty clothes!Pānuitia te reo Māori ki a koe anō.
Read Māori aloud.Kohimutia mai ki taku taringa.
Whisper it in my ear.Tāpirihia he huka.
Add some sugar.Tangohia ō hū!
Take off your shoes!Huakina te matapihi!
Open the window!Awhinatia tāu tuahine ki te kuhu i ōna kākahu!
Help your sister put her clothes on!Tangohia ō hū!
Take off your shoes!Whakapaitia ngā moenga!
Make the beds!Ringihia mai te wai ki tāku kapu.
Pour the water into my cup.Awhinatia tāu tuahine ki te whakakākahu i a ia anō!
Help your sister to get herself dressed!Tapahia kia ono ngā topenga.
Cut it up into six slices.Tīkina he tūru anō.
Fetch another chair.Tīkina ōu kākahu paru!
Fetch your dirty clothes!Waiho ō hū ki te kūaha.
Leave your shoes at the door.Tāpirihia te miraka.
Put in the milk.Mauria atu te pukapuka rā!
Bring me that book!Homai ēnā māti!
Pass me those matches!Whakapaingia te whare i mua i te taenga mai o ngā manuhiri.
Clean the house before the guests arrive.Whakapaitia tō moenga!
Make your bed!Tiakina te tangata whana!
See to the injured person!Hoatu te tuna ki te pēke!
Put the eel in the sack!Whakawāteahia he wāhi ki te kāuta.
Clear a space in the kitchen.Hūtia ngā taru!
Pull the weeds out!Tīkina atu tō pāpā!
Go and get your father!Tīkina kia whā ngā hēki.
Get four eggsWhakamaua ngā tōkena!
Put on the socks!Me whakapono mai!
You should believe in me!Whakatakotoria te koha!
Lay the gift down!Pāwhiritia te tohu tīwhiri ka whakautu ai i te pātai.
Click the clue symbol in each box to reveal the question.Tiakina a Ataahua!
Look after Ataahua!Tīkina te waka ki te marae.
Fetch the car from the marae.Whakapiatia ō hū!
Polish your shoes!Nō wai ēnei hū māwhero?
To whom do these pink shoes belong?Whakatikahia ngā mahi i te whare mō te hui.
Prepare the work at the house for the meeting.Katia te kūaha!
Close the door!Katia ngā ārai.
Shut the curtains.Whakarewa!
Melt!Maranga!
Get up!Katia ō whatu.
Close your eyes.Hōmai he parāoa māku.
Give me some bread.Tīkina te ūkui papa.
Get the mop.Riringihia he wai ki roto.
Pour in some water.Tuatahi, horoia ōu ringaringa!
Firstly, wash your hands!Riringihia te miraka.
Pour the milk.Tīkina he wai!
Fetch some water!Whakarongo ki tēnei waiata!
Listen to this song!Āwhinatia rātou!
Look after them!Homai he wai arani māku.
Pass an orange juice for me.Tāpapa!
Lie face down!