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