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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!
Hoatu te huka ki roto i te kāpata.
Put the sugar into the cupboard.Tīkina tō pukapuka.
Fetch your book.Tapahia kia ono ngā topenga.
Cut it up into six slices.Tangohia ō tōkena!
Take off your socks!Whakahokia ngā rīhi ki te kāpata i muri i te kai.
Return the dishes to the cupboard after the meal.Hūtia ngā taru!
Pull the weeds out!Waruhia te kiri rēmana.
Grate the lemon rind.Haria ngā tamariki ki te kura i te ata.
Take the children to school in the morning.Tāpirihia te miraka.
Put in the milk.Awhinatia tāu tuahine ki te whakakākahu i a ia anō!
Help your sister to get herself dressed!Whakakāngia te umu.
Turn on the oven.Homai he wai arani māku.
Pass an orange juice for me.Mauria atu ērā oka!
Take those knives away!Homai ana pukapuka!
Give me her books!Whakapaitia ngā moenga!
Make the beds!Horoia ngā kanohi o ngā tamariki nohinohi!
Wash the little children's faces!Pānuitia te pukapuka.
Read the book.Tikina atu āu pukapuka!
Go and get your books!Whakarerea ngā tūru ki roto i te rūma hui.
Leave the chairs in the meeting room.Whakatakotoria te koha!
Lay the gift down!Waiho ō hū ki te kūaha.
Leave your shoes at the door.Tīkina ōu kākahu paru!
Fetch your dirty clothes!Inumia te miraka!
Drink the milk!Huakina te matapihi!
Open the window!Whakarongo ki tēnei waiata!
Listen to this song!Tāpirihia he huka.
Add some sugar.Unuhia ki te uru tapu nui!
Draw on the superme sacredness!Kohimutia mai ki taku taringa.
Whisper it in my ear.Tuatahi, horoia ōu ringaringa!
Firstly, wash your hands!Inumia te wai!
Drink the water!Tiakina te tangata whana!
See to the injured person!Whakahanumitia ngā mea mākū.
Mix together the wet ingredients.Tangohia tō hingareti!
Take off your singlet!Katia ngā ārai.
Shut the curtains.Pāwhiritia te tohu tīwhiri ka whakautu ai i te pātai.
Click the clue symbol in each box to reveal the question.Nō wai ēnei hū māwhero?
To whom do these pink shoes belong?Pānuitia te reo Māori ki a koe anō.
Read Māori aloud.Tangohia ō hū!
Take off your shoes!Tīkina atu he huka.
Fetch some sugar.Whāia te mātauranga!
Pursue education!Tangohia ō kākahu!
Take off your clothes!Tukua ki te nūpepa!
Send it to the newspaper!Tīkina atu tō pāpā!
Go and get your father!Āwhinatia te ngeru kia piki ki runga i te tūru.
Help the cat climb onto the chair.Ka tāpirihia ngā panana.
Add the banana.Whakatikahia ngā mahi i te whare mō te hui.
Prepare the work at the house for the meeting.Whakatikahia te tēpu mō te kai.
Set the table for the meal.Tīkina kia whā ngā hēki.
Get four eggsHōmai he parāoa māku.
Give me some bread.Mauria atu te pukapuka rā!
Bring me that book!Tapahia kia ono ngā topenga.
Cut it up into six slices.Whakawāteahia he wāhi ki te kāuta.
Clear a space in the kitchen.Whakamaua ngā tōkena!
Put on the socks!Hoatu te tuna ki te pēke!
Put the eel in the sack!Katia ō whatu.
Close your eyes.Tīkina ōu kākahu paru!
Fetch your dirty clothes!Riringihia te miraka.
Pour the milk.Tīkina te waka ki te marae.
Fetch the car from the marae.Kātia te kuaha kia kaua e uru mai te hau.
Close the door to prevent the wind from coming in.Nekehia ki Kapiti!
Move to Kapiti!Tangohia ō hū!
Take off your shoes!Tiakina a Niko!
Look after Niko!Whakairihia ngā kākahu ki runga i te rākau.
Hang the clothes on the line.Tīkina te ūkui papa.
Get the mop.Manaakitia ngā manuhiri ki te kai, ki te kōrero.
Look after the guests with food and good conversation.Awhinatia tāu tuahine ki te kuhu i ōna kākahu!
Help your sister put her clothes on!Āwhinatia rātou!
Look after them!Tikina atu tāu pukapuka!
Go and get your book!Whakarewa!
Melt!Tīkina he tūru anō.
Fetch another chair.Whakarongo!
Listen!Katia ngā ārai.
Shut the curtains.Riringihia he wai ki roto.
Pour in some water.Tīkina atu te pukapuka mai i te tēpu.
Fetch the book from the table.Whakatikaina ēnei rerenga!
Correct these sentences.Whakapaingia te whare i mua i te taenga mai o ngā manuhiri.
Clean the house before the guests arrive.Ringihia mai te wai ki tāku kapu.
Pour the water into my cup.Tātaihia!
Recite it!Hoatu ngā pukapuka ki runga i te papa pukapuka.
Put the books on the bookshelf.Kainga tō parakuihi!
Eat your breakfast!Whakapaitia tōu rūma moe.
Tidy your bedroom.Katia te kuaha.
Close the door.Kainga tāu āporo!
Eat your apple!Tīkina he wai!
Fetch some water!Me pukumahi koe.
You should work hard!Katia te kūaha!
Close the door!Waihotia ngā kai ki runga i te tēpu mō te rā whānau.
Leave the food on the table for the birthday.Pupuritia taku ringaringa.
Hold my hand.Maranga!
Get up!Tāpapa!
Lie face down!Me whakapono mai!
You should believe in me!Puritia ngā taha o te waka kei taka koe!
Hold on to the sides of the waka lest you fall!Tikina tō pōtae.
Fetch your hat.Katia te kuaha o te motokā.
Close the car door.Whakapiatia ō hū!
Polish your shoes!Arohatia te reo!
Love the language!Tīkina ngā taputapu i te rūma ki te hanga i te whare.
Fetch the tools from the room to build the house.Whakapaitia tō moenga!
Make your bed!