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