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