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