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