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