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