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