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