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