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