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