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