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