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