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