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