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