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