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