Imperatives - mai/atu

If I want someone to do something away from me

• mai

• atu

If you want someone to do something towards you

• mai

• atu

mai/atu are placed

• after the verb (suffix)

• before the verb (prefix)

• within the verb (infix)

come here

• haere mai

• haere atu

• hoki mai

• hoki atu

If my friend and I are at school and I tell my friend to return home, I say

• hoki mai

• haere mai

• hoki atu

• haere atu

haere atu

• come here

• go away

• listen to me

If I am telling someone to listen to someone else, i say

• whakarongo mai

• whakarongo atu

• kōrero mai

• kōrero atu

If you want someone to listen to you, you say

• kōrero mai

• kōrero atu

• whakarongo mai

• whakarongo atu