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