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