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