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