Māori Grammar

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The cake was eaten by me

passive sentences

There are often two ways we can say the same thing: "I am reading a book" and "the book is being read by me". The first way, known as an "active" sentence, says that someone is doing something. The second, called a "passive" sentence, says that something is being done to something. In this case, the book is being read. There are many sentences that can be said in a passive way: "The milk was drunk by the children", "the fire was lit by the man", "the cake was baked by the Gran". 

Te reo Māori often uses a passive sentence structure. In fact, a general rule of thumb is that if you can say something using a passive sentence then it is preferable to do so. For example, it is better, in te reo, to say: "The work was done by me" rather than "I did the work".

A passive sentence is created by adding a passive ending to a verb. For example, the word for "love" is aroha, but the word for "to be loved" is arohaina. The -ina ending (or "suffix) makes the word passive.

There are quite a few passive endings:

-a, -hanga, - hia, -hina, -ina, -kia, -kina, -mia, -na, -nga, -ngia, -ria, -rina, -tia, -whia, -whina and -ea

There is no apparent rule as to which ending a word might take, and so these have to be learned. For example:

arohaina - to be loved
kainga - to be eaten
kōrerotia - to be spoken

Occasionally, the word itself may change slightly. For example:

titiro - to see
tirohia - to be seen

tuhituhi - to write
tuhia - to be written

We might have expected titirohoa or tuhituhitia, but where a syllable is duplicated in the word (ti-ti-ro, tuhi-tuhi) then the duplication is dropped.

The following are passive endings:

-a
-na
-ngā
-kia
-mia
-ria
-whia
-ina
-whina
-ā
-ia
-tia
-hia
-ngia

Can only be used with kei te, e... ana, ka, i, i te and kua. (Can't be used with me, hei, homai, hoatu)

-tia, -hia and -ngia are interchangeable. 

Passive sentences do not have i or ki before the subject:

Kei te whakatika i te waka.
The car is being fixed.

But:

Kei te whakatikaina te waka.
The car is being fixed.

(No i before te waka.)

I pōwhitritia e mātou.
They were welcomed by us.

I pōwhitritia mātou.
We were welcomed.

The particle e indicates who did the action, and can change the meaning of a sentence:

I patu au.
I hit.

I patua e au.
It was hit by me.

I patua au.
I was hit.

 

See also:

• The pseudo-passive - he mea...

E whitia ana au e te rā.
I am being shone on by the sun.

Kua kauhoetia e ia te awa.
She has swum the river.

Kei te topea te rākau e ia.
The tree was felled (by him).

Ka manaakitia te harakeke e au.
The flax will be looked after by me.

Ka whakatauria te kēmu e te kaiwawao.
The game will be decided by the referee.

I topea te rākau e Rōpata.
The tree was cut by Bob.

Kei te kōrertia e au.
It is being spoken by me.

I runga i te paruone ka mahia e ia he raina mai i te kēti ki te whare ki tana rākau.
He drew a line in the dirt from the gate to the house with his stick.

Kei te whakaaro ia.
He is thinking.

E kainga ana ngā rīwai e te pēpi.
The potatoes are being eaten by the baby.

I titoa te waiata nei e Jeff Simmonds.
This song was composed by Jeff Simmonds.

I āta wāhia te wini e Rangi.
Rangi broke the window deliberately.

Kei te kōrerohia te kaupapa e te kaiako.
The topic is being discussed by the teacher.

I hokona ngā ika e ia.
The fish were bought by him.

I wepua e mātou.
We thrashed them.

Ke rāhuitia ēnei tauranga ike mā Ngāti-Kahukoka.
These fishing grounds were set aside for Ngāti-Kahukoka.

Kei te awhitia te pēpi e tōna māmā.
The girl is being hugged by her mother.

Ka whakatikahia te whare e ngā kaimahi.
The house will be fixed by the workers.

Kua waiatatia te waiata e māua.
The song has been sung by us.

Tokohia ngā tāngata i tae atu ki reira?
How many people arrived there?

E mōhiotia whānuitia ana a Te Puea Hērangi e ngā tāngata Māori o te motu.
Te Puea Hērangi is widely known by Māori people from all over the land.

I tuhia tētahi reta e ia ki tōna hoa.
The letter was written by her to her sweetheart.

Kua whāngaia te ngeru e a Rangi.
The cat was fed by Rangi.

I ahatia koe?
What happened to you?

Kei te āwhinatia te hoa e au.
The friend is being helped by me.

Ka hangaia te whare e au.
The house is built by me.

I huakina e te kōtiro te kūwaha.
The door was opened by the girl.

I te ngahuru i hauhaketia e rātou ngā riwai.
In the autumn, they harvested potatoes.

I pōkia te rangi e ngā kapua.
They sky was covered over by the clouds.

I mahia e ia he taonga wheua mō te rau tāra.
He made a bone pendant worth one hundred dollars.

Hāponotia tōku hē!
Prove me wrong!

Kua kōrerohia e ia tēnei pukapuka.
He has read this book right through.

Ka puhia ia i te manu.
He shot the bird.

Ka tangihia ngā mate e tātou.
The deceased will be bereaved by us.

Ka mahia he waka mō tekau tāngata,.
A ten-man canoe was made.

Ka pūhia e ia te manu.
The bird was shot by him.

Ka horoia ngā rīhi e ngā tama ā te pō nei.
The dishes will be washed by the boys tonight.

Kua pānuitia taua pukapuka e au.
I have read that (aforementioned) book.

Kawea tētehi puka iti ki ngā wāhi kei reira te reo Māori e kōrerohia ana, tuhia ngā kupu me ngā kīanga ka rangona.
Bring a small book with you to the places where the Māori language is spoken, write down the words and phrases that are heard.

I kōhurutia te tangata ki te awa.
The man was murdered at the river.

Ka kīia te wharepaku e ngā manuhiri.
The bathroom will be used by the guests.

Kua whakakopaina ngā pūhera e ngā kaihoko.
The parcels have been wrapped by the shop assistants.

Kei te waiata mātou.
We are singing.

E whāngaihia ana ngā kurī e Aroha.
The dogs are being fed by Aroha.

Kitea rawatia ake rāua i runga i te maunga.
They were finally seen on the mountain.

Kei te waiatahia e mātou.
It is being sung by us.

Kia kauwhautia atu iana, e ahau, ki a koe.
Let me know recite this to you.

I whakaakona ngā tamariki e te kaiako.
The children were taught by the teacher.

I utaina e au ngā kai ki roto i te torore.
The food was loaded into the trolley by me.

I hiroia e Pāora ngā pereti.
The dishes were washed by Pāora.

I nukuhia e au ngā ahi wera mai i ngā kōhatu ki te pouaka ki tōku hawera.
The hot ashes were moved by me from the stones to the box with my shovel.

Ka tukua te kurī e au.
The dog was released by me.

Kei te ahatia koe?
What is happening to you?

I kainga katoatia te hākari.
The feast was all eaten up.

Kua kōrerotia te tamaiti e tōna kaiako.
The child has been spoken to by his/her teacher.

Ka mutu ngā karakia a Te Aotaki ka werohia e ia a Rangipopo.
Te Aotaki finished his incantations and then he invoked Rangipopo.

Kua haria ngā pouaka e au.
The boxes have been carried by me.

Ka āwhinatia a Ari e Hēmi.
Ari was helped by Hēmi.

Ka whākina koe.
I am going to tell on you.

I hopukia tēnei manu.
This bird was caught.

I kōrerohia te pūrākau ki te reo Māori.
They story was told in the Māori language.

Kua waiatatia te waiata e ngā tauira.
The song was sung by the students.

Kua tonoa kētia atu ngā pānui e mātou.
The notices have already been sent out by us (3/+ exclusive).

I whāngaihia ia e ōna kaumātua.
She was adopted her grandparents.

Kei te tāia te pepa e te kaituhi.
The paper is being printed by the author.

Kua tāria koe e au.
You have been waited for by me.

Kei te kōrerohia a Hera te pūrākau.
The story is being told by Hera.

Ka kōrerotia au.
I am spoken to/about.

Kua kainga te parāoa e ngā rakiraki.
The bread has been eaten by the ducks.

Kua whakarekatia te inu.
The drink has been sweetened.

Kei te waiatahia mātou.
We are being sung about.

Kia tae atu tātou ki Te Tairāwhitio, ka pōhiritia tātou.
When we get to the East Coast we will be welcomed.

Ka karapotia te pā o Mātakiora.
The pā of Mōtakiora was surrounded.

E kimihia ana he tikanga.
A plan is/was being sought.

E waiatatia ana ngā waiata e ngā tauira.
The songs are being sung by the students.

Kua tākarohia e mātou ngā kēmu e rua.
We've played the two games.

Kua tapahia te pātītī e au.
The grass has been cut by me.

I herua ōku makawe.
My hair was combed.

I horoia ngā kākahu e au i tērā Rāhoroi.
The clothes were washed by me on Saturday.

He tūranga motuhake tō te reo Māori i waenganui i ngā reo e kōrerotia ana i Aotearoa nei.
Māori has a special position amongst the languages spoken here in Aotearoa.

I hokona ngā rare rā e ia i taina hi.
Those lollies were purchased by her yesterday.

Ka mihia mātou e te tangata whenua.
We were greeted by the home people.

Ke tukuna e Wairangi tana taurekareka ki a Pare-whete.
His servant was sent by Wairangi to Para-whete.

I whāngaihia te tamaiti e tana kuia.
The child was adopted by his grandmother.

I mihia ahau.
I was acknowledged.

Kei te kimihia he whare mō te kura.
A house is being sought for the school.

I whakatikahia te waka hei painga mō te haere.
The car was fixed for the benefit of the trip.

Horoia e te ua
Washed by the rain

Patua aku kupu!
Prove me wrong!

Kei te karangatia te ope e te wahine.
The group is being called by the woman.

I pōwhitritia mātou.
We were welcomed.

Kei te kōrertia au.
I am being spoken about.

Kei te whakatikangia tōku waka e taku pāpā.
My car is being fixed by my father.

Ka pīrangitia e ia ngā mea katoa.
All the things are wanted by him.

Ka haria ngā tamariki e au ki te papa tākaro.
The children will be taken by me to the playground.

Ka patua te ngeru e te kurī.
The cat will be attacked by the dog.

I hoea te waka e ngā manuhiri ki te motu.
The boat was paddled by the guests to the island.

Kua tangohia nā hū e tōnā matua.
His shoes have been removed by his father.

Kua kimihia e ia āna kī i ngā wāhi katoa.
He has searched everywhere for his keys. (Literally, his keys have been searched for everywhere.).

E nekehia ana ngā pouaka e ngā tamariki.
The boxes are being moved by the children.

Kua inumia te miraka e te tamaiti.
The milk has been drunk by the child.

I tīkina te māripi e ia, kātahi ka tapahi ia i te pāua.
He fetched the knife, then he chopped the pāua.

Kua tapahia te pātītī e au.
The grass was cut by me.

E kōrerotia ana te karakia e te wahine.
The prayer is being spoken by the woman.

I horoia tōna waka e Pita.
His car was washed by Peter.

Ka rāhuitia ēnei tauranga ika mā Ngāti-Kahukoka.
These fishing grounds were set aside for Ngāti-Kahukoka.

Mahia ai tēnei mahi i ngā rā omua.
This work was carried out in former times.

Ka horoia ngā kākahu mā e ia.
The white clothes will be washed by him.

E tahia ana e Tame te papa.
The floor was swept by Tame.

I utaina e au ngā kākahu ki roto i te mīhini horoi.
The clothes were loaded into the washing machine by me.

Kua tuhia te reta e Hine.
The letter has been written by Hine.

Kei te whitia au e te rā.
I am being shone on by the sun.

Kei te whakaaronga ia.
He is being thought about.

Kei te wetekia a Taika e tona hoa.
Taika is being untied by his friend.

Ka whakapaingia te papa e ngā tamariki.
The floor will be cleaned by the children.

I whakairotia a mua o te whare.
The front of the house was carved.

Kua mahia te mahi e ngā tamariki.
The work was done by the children.

I mātakitakitua e au tērā hōtaka i tētrā wikil.
That programme was watched by me last week.

I mihia e ahau.
They were acknowledged by me.

E tirohia ana ngā taonga tākaro ki te toa e ngā tamariki.
The toys in the shop are being looked at by the children.

Ka numia ki te pakitara maui o waho o te whare.
And led him past the outside of the left wall of the house.

Ka ahatia koe?
What will happen to you?

I mahia e ia te wini me ana ringa paruparu.
He mended the window with dirty hands.

I tāia ia e te moe.
He was overcome by sleep.

Kua whakamāramatia te mahi e te kaiako ki ngā tamariki.
The work has been explained to the children by the teacher.

Kei te whakaaronga e ia.
It is being thought about by her.

I herua ōku makawe e tōku hoa.
My hair was combed by my friend.

Kei te whāia te pōro e ngā tamariki.
The ball is being chased by the children,

Kua haerea te ara ra.
That pathway has been travelled.

Ka tuwherahia te tatau e te kaiako.
The door will be opened by the teacher.

Ka whāngaitioa ringaringatia hoki a Ruataupare e tētahi tohunga.
Ruataupere was also fed by hand by a tohunga.

I whiria te tū harakeke e te kuia.
The flax belt was braided by the old woman.

Kua kikia te pāora e Manu to Kauri.
The ball was kicked by Manu to Kauri.

I arohaina a Taika e Mia.
Taika was loved by Mia.

I taiāwhiotia te whare i te ture.
The house was surrounded by the police.

Ka nōhia ngā tūru.
The chairs will be sat on.

I ngā rā o mua, kāore tēnei mahi e mahia ana e ngā Māori o Te Kaha.
Formerly, this activity was not performed by the Māori people of Te Kaha.

I te pānuitia te kupu.
The message was being read out.

I ngaua te tangata e to kurī.
The man was bitten by the dog.

Ka whāngaitia ringaringatia hoki a Ruataupare e tētehai tohunga.
Ruataupare was also fed by hand by a tohunga.

I whakatūngia ahau e te pirihimana.
I was stopped by the police officer.

I rurukutia ngā hokonga e ia.
The purchases were wrapped by him.

He marama pai a Hōngongoi kia kokotia ngā rōhi.
July is a good month to prune the roses.

Kei te tunua te kai ki te ahi.
The food is being cooked by fire.

I taupokitia te oneone e te paruauru.
The soil was dug by the gardener.

Auē, kua rakahia te whare? Nā wai i raka te whare? Ehara i a au.
Oh no! Has the house been locked? Who locked the house? It wasn't me.

Nōnahea rātou i pōwhiritia ai?
When were they welcomed?

Kua kimihia tāna waea pūkoro i ngā wāhi katoa.
His cell phone has been searched for everywhere.

E takahia ana te whenua e ngā waewae o ngā manuhiri.
The ground is trodden on by the feet of the visitors.

E whakamākūtia ana ngā kākahu e te ua.
The clothes are being drenched by the rain.

Ka tunua te keke.
The cake will be cooked.

Mehemea ki te kore e matu tō makamaka i te pāore, ka tangohia e au.
If you don't stop playing with the ball, I'll take it away.

E inumia ana te miraka e te ngeru.
The milk is being drunk by the cat.

Tapaia tonutia atu taua maunga nei ko Tirirau.
That mountain is still called Tihirua.

Kei te riro te mōhiohio e te pirihimana.
The information is being received by the policeman.

I huakina te kūwaha e te kōtiro.
The door was opened by the girl.

Ka mea atu ia ki a Mea kia meatia ngā mea katoa ki mea wāhi.
She told so-and-so to put all the things in such-and-such a place.

Muri iho ka whakaarahia e ia ōna hoa koroheke o roto i te whare ki te mātakitaki ki te ātaahuatanga o tana wahine.
Afterwars, his old cronies in the house were roused by him to gaze at the beauty of his wife.

Kua pāngia taua wahine e te mate.
That woman has been touched by sickness.

I kainga te keke e Mere.
The cake was eaten by Mere.

Kei te tahia te papa e ia.
The floor is being swept by him/her.

Kua mahia e Ataahua he kapu tī mā rātou.
Ataahua has made them a cup of tea.

E tapatapahia ana ngā aniana e ia.
The onions are being diced by him.

I kohia ngā pipi e au.
I gathered the pipi.

Kei te kitea te kōtiro e tōna māmā.
The girl is being seen by her mother.

Ka kimihia tētahi tikanga, e kitea ai he moni.
A plan will be sought whereby money will be found.

I patua te kurī e te tamaiti.
The dog was hit by the child.

Kua horoia ngā rīhi e ngā tamariki.
The dishes have been washed by the children.

Kei te tangohia ōna hū e Makere.
Her shoes are being removed by Makere.

I wepua mātou.
We were thrashed.

E kimihia ana te kiore e te ngeru.
The cat is searching for the rat.

Kei te kōrerotia ia e te kuramāhita.
She is being spoken to by the headmaster.

Kotahi te poaka e pūhia ana a te Mane.
One pig will be shot on Monday.

I tomokia te pā e ngā toa.
The pā was entered by the warriors.

I pātaitia au.
I was questioned.

I pokea au e te mahi!
I am overwhelmed by the work!

Kua whakapaitia tōu ruma?
Has your room been tidied?

Kāore anō tēnei pānui kia pānuitia e au.
I have not yet read this notice.

I whakanohoia ahau i te kāinga.
I was grounded.

I kainga katoatia te kai.
The food was all eaten up.

Ka tāria te waka e ngā kaiako.
The car will be waited for by the teachers.

Ka tohia te āporo e Mere.
The apple will be picked by Mere.

E kimihia ana he tikanga e ngā āpiha.
A plan is being sought by the officials.

I wepu mātou.
We thrashed them.

Kua hokona ngā hū e Hōne.
The shoes were bought by Hōne.

I patua te rango e te tangata.
The fly was hit by the man.

Kei te torohia e te kairangahau ngā pukapuka.
The books are being looked at by the researcher.

Kua inumia ā tātou waireka.
Our fizzy drinks have all been drunk.

Kei pāngia ia e te rūmātiki.
He might get rheumatism.

Kua tirohia ngā tāonga e ngā tauira.
The treasures have been looked at by the students.

Kua whakapukapukakangia ā tātou kōrero.
Our talk has been turned into a book.

Ka inumia te miraka e koe.
The milk will be drunk by you.

Whitiwhitia e te rā.
Transformed by the sun.

Kei te tākarohia te pōro e ngā tamariki.
The ball is being played with by the children.

I pōwhitritia mātou e Ngāti Toa.
We were welcomed by Ngāti Toa.

I whakatōkia ngā tipu e te paruauru.
The seedlings were planted by the gardener.

Ki te kitea noatia e tētahi tangata mea...
If someone just sees something...

Ka pōwhiritia te manuhiri e te tangata whenua.
The visitors will be welcomed by the local people.

Nō muri tata mai ka whakamihia ia mō āna mahi.
Shortly afterwards she was acknowledged for what she'd done.

Kua patua ahau.
I have been hit.

Ka hokona te taonga e koe.
The gift will be bought by you.

I aukatingia ahau e te pirihimana.
I was stopped by the police officer.