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