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