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