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