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