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