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