Ngā Tohutohu
The words homai (give to the speaker) and hoatu (give away from the speaker) can be used to ask for something to be given. Unlike other ordinary verbs, these two words are unusual in that they do not take passive endings when used as commands.
Hei tauira:
| Homai koa tāu pene. |
Give me your pen. |
| Hoatu tōna pōtae ki a ia. |
Give his hat to him. |
| Homai koa te tūru mōku! |
Please pass a chair for me! |
| I hoatu ia i te kurī ki tāna tama. |
He gave the dog to his son. |
| Ka hoatu ia i te whakakai ki tōna māmā. |
She will give the earring to his mother. |
| Kua homai ia i tētahi koti mahana. |
She has given me a warm coat. |
Koa can be used to soften the command or make it more polite, it is usually translated as 'please'.
For further explanations and exercises see Te Kākano pp. 63, 67.
Whakakīa ngā āputa.
