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