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