Māori Grammar

Commands using the passive - Tāpirihia, Tīkina...

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!

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Chop the vegetables

Commands using passives

Topea te rākau!
Chop the tree!

Tīkina te ūkui papa.
Get the mop.

Mauria atu ērā oka!
Take those knives away!

Hoatu te huka ki roto i te kāpata.
Put the sugar into the cupboard.

Whakawāteahia he wāhi ki te kāuta.
Clear a space in the kitchen.

Whakarongo!
Listen!

Whakatakotoria te koha!
Lay the gift down!

Awhinatia tāu tuahine ki te whakakākahu i a ia anō!
Help your sister to get herself dressed!

Haria mai koa te arawhata!
Please bring me the ladder!

Pāwhiritia te tohu tīwhiri ka whakautu ai i te pātai.
Click the clue symbol in each box to reveal the question.

Tangohia tō hingareti!
Take off your singlet!

Tirohia te rā!
Look at the sun!

Waruhia te kiri rēmana.
Grate the lemon rind.

Tīkina atu tō pāpā!
Go and get your father!

Pupuritia taku ringaringa.
Hold my hand.

Whakapiatia ō hū!
Polish your shoes!

Tīkina ōu kākahu paru!
Fetch your dirty clothes!

Tukua ki te nūpepa!
Send it to the newspaper!

Whakatikahia te tēpu mō te kai.
Set the table for the meal.

Tikina atu āu pukapuka!
Go and get your books!

Puritia ngā taha o te waka kei taka koe!
Hold on to the sides of the waka lest you fall!

Āwhinatia rātou!
Look after them!

Inumia te miraka!
Drink the milk!

Tāpirihia te miraka.
Put in the milk.

Tiakina a Taika!
Look after Taika!

Tangohia ō tōkena!
Take off your socks!

Tīkina te maripi.
Get a knife.

Huakina te kūwaha.
Open the door.

Horoia ngā kanohi o ngā tamariki nohinohi!
Wash the little children's faces!

Tīkina he wai!
Fetch some water!

Whakapaitia tō moenga!
Make your bed!

Titiro atu!
Look over there!

Riringihia he wai ki roto.
Pour in some water.

Mahia atu!
Get into it!

Homai he wai arani māku.
Pass an orange juice for me.

Mauria atu te pukapuka rā!
Bring me that book!

Kainga tō parakuihi!
Eat your breakfast!

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.

Unuhia ki te uru tapu nui!
Draw on the superme sacredness!

Tīkina he tūru anō.
Fetch another chair.

Katia ngā ārai.
Shut the curtains.

Tapahia kia ono ngā topenga.
Cut it up into six slices.

Whakarongo ki tēnei waiata!
Listen to this song!

Tīkina kia whā ngā hēki.
Get four eggs

Whakahanumitia ngā mea mākū.
Mix together the wet ingredients.

Pataina tr parāoa.
Butter the bread.

Hoatu ngā pukapuka ki runga i te papa pukapuka.
Put the books on the bookshelf.

Whakarewa!
Melt!

Kātia te kuaha kia kaua e uru mai te hau.
Close the door to prevent the wind from coming in.

Me whakapono mai!
You should believe in me!

Taupokitia te miraka.
Put the lid on the milk.

Tiakina te tangata whana!
See to the injured person!

Mauria mai ētahi parāoa parai.,
bring me some fried bread.

Tikina atu tāu pukapuka!
Go and get your book!

Tīkina tō pukapuka.
Fetch your book.

Whakatikaina ēnei rerenga!
Correct these sentences.

Kōmuhua mai.
Whisper it to me!

Tikina tō pōtae.
Fetch your hat.

Inumia te wai!
Drink the water!

Tīkina ōu kākahu paru!
Fetch your dirty clothes!

Whakapaitia tōu rūma moe.
Tidy your bedroom.

Kainga ō tōhi!
Eat your toast!

Katia ngā ārai.
Shut the curtains.

Homai ana pukapuka!
Give me her books!

Whakapaingia te whare i mua i te taenga mai o ngā manuhiri.
Clean the house before the guests arrive.

Tīkina atu te pukapuka mai i te tēpu.
Fetch the book from the table.

Hōmai he parāoa māku.
Give me some bread.

Katia te kūaha!
Close the door!

Tīkina he pune.
Get a spoon.

Ringihia mai te wai ki tāku kapu.
Pour the water into my cup.

Tāpirihia he huka.
Add some sugar.

Haria ēnei!
Carry these!

Riringihia te miraka.
Pour the milk.

Ka tāpirihia ngā panana.
Add the banana.

Āwhinatia te ngeru kia piki ki runga i te tūru.
Help the cat climb onto the chair.

Whakapaitia ngā moenga!
Make the beds!

Whakapaitia te ruma!
Tidy the room!

Tātaihia!
Recite it!

Nekehia ki Kapiti!
Move to Kapiti!

Homai ēnā māti!
Pass me those matches!

Pānuitia te pukapuka.
Read the book.

Katia te kuaha.
Close the door.

Whakakāngia te umu.
Turn on the oven.

Maranga!
Get up!

Kainga tāu āporo!
Eat your apple!

Tahia te ara!
Sweep the path!

Tapahia kia ono ngā topenga.
Cut it up into six slices.

Whakahokia atu to motokā ki a Ataahua.
Return the car to Ataahua.

Waiho ō hū ki te kūaha.
Leave your shoes at the door.

Tīkina atu he huka.
Fetch some sugar.

Meatia ki roto!
Put it in!

Haria atu te motokā ki tō Ari whare.
Take the car to Ari's house.

Whakairihia ngā kākahu ki runga i te rākau.
Hang the clothes on the line.

Whengua tō ihu!
Blow your nose!

Katia ō whatu.
Close your eyes.

Whakahokia ngā rīhi ki te kāpata i muri i te kai.
Return the dishes to the cupboard after the meal.

Tāpapa!
Lie face down!

Maranga mai!
Get up!

Whakatikahia ngā mahi i te whare mō te hui.
Prepare the work at the house for the meeting.

Hūtia ngā taru!
Pull the weeds out!

Mahia te mahi!
Do the work!

Kohimutia mai ki taku taringa.
Whisper it in my ear.

Haria ngā tamariki ki te kura i te ata.
Take the children to school in the morning.

Kaita te kūwaha.
Shut the door.

Whakahokia mai te motokā ki a au.
Return the car to me.

Kōrerotia te reo Māori!
Speak the Māori language!

Huakina te matapihi!
Open the window!

Katia te kuaha o te motokā.
Close the car door.

Tangohia ō hū!
Take off your shoes!

Arohatia te reo!
Love the language!

Kei te whakatikaina te waka.
The car is being fixed.

Tuatahi, horoia ōu ringaringa!
Firstly, wash your hands!

Whakamaua ngā tōkena!
Put on the socks!

Tangohia ō kākahu!
Take off your clothes!

Nō wai ēnei hū māwhero?
To whom do these pink shoes belong?

Awhinatia tāu tuahine ki te kuhu i ōna kākahu!
Help your sister put her clothes on!

Whāia te mātauranga!
Pursue education!

Tangohia ō hū!
Take off your shoes!

Me pukumahi koe.
You should work hard!

Manaakitia ngā manuhiri ki te kai, ki te kōrero.
Look after the guests with food and good conversation.

Pānuitia te reo Māori ki a koe anō.
Read Māori aloud.

Hoatu te tuna ki te pēke!
Put the eel in the sack!

Tīkina ngā taputapu i te rūma ki te hanga i te whare.
Fetch the tools from the room to build the house.

Whakarerea ngā tūru ki roto i te rūma hui.
Leave the chairs in the meeting room.