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