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