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