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