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