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