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