Klingon verbs are mostly monosyllabic forms which may be accompanied by several affixes. As with Klingon nouns, Klingon verbs may take suffixes falling into a number of types based on their relative position following the verb.
There are nine types of verb suffixes. Unlike Klingon nouns, Klingon verbs may take prefixes. Thus, if suffix types are indicated as numbers, the structure of a Klingon verb is:
PREFIX–VERB–1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8–9
Each Klingon verb begins with a single prefix that indicates who or what is performing the action described by the verb and, when relevant, who or what is the recipient of that action. In other words, Klingon verb prefixes indicate both
the subject and the object of the sentence.
The basic set of prefixes can be presented in a chart. (In order to make the chart as clear as possible, some prefixes are repeated.)
Note that both the subject and the object are combined into a single prefix. 0 in the chart means that the particular subject-object combinations are indicated by the absence of a prefix before the verb; – in the chart notes subject-object combinations which cannot be expressed with the Klingon verb prefix system. For such meanings, suffixes and/or pronouns must be used.
The prefixes in the first column of the chart (headed ``none’’) are used when there is no object; that is, when the action of the verb affects only the subject (the “doer”). The verb {Qong} <sleep> occurs with the pronominal prefixes as
follows:
{jIQong} <I sleep>
{bIQong} <you sleep>
{Qong} <he/she/it sleeps, they sleep>
{maQong} <we sleep>
{SuQong} <you (plural) sleep>
In the case of {Qong} <he/she/it sleeps, they sleep,> the exact subject would be indicated elsewhere in the sentence or by context.
This set of prefixes is also used when an object is possible, but unknown or vague. Thus, {jIyaj} <I understand> can be used when the speaker understands things in general, knows what is going on, or understands what another speaker has just said. It cannot, however, be used for understanding a language or understanding a person. Similarly, {maSop} <we eat> can
be used to indicate a general act of eating, but not if a specific food is mentioned.
The remaining prefixes combine subject and object. Some of them are illustrated below, using the verb {legh} <see.> {qalegh} <I see you> {cholegh} <you see me> {vIlegh} <I see him/her/it/ them> {mulegh} <he/she/it sees me,> <they see me> {Salegh} <I see you (plural)> {tulegh} <you (plural) see me>{Dalegh} <you see him/her/it/them> {Dulegh} <he/she/it sees you> {julegh} <you see us> {pIlegh} <we see you> {legh} <he/she/it sees him/her/it/them,>
<they see them> {lulegh} <they see him/her/it>
A special set of prefixes is used for imperatives, that is, verbs giving commands. Commands can be given only to <you> or <you (plural).>
OBJECT none <me> <him/her/it> <us> <them>
<you> {yI-} {HI-} {yI-} {gho-} {tI-}
<you (plural)> {pe-} {HI-} {yI-} {gho-} {tI-}
Note that, with one exception, the identical prefix is used regardless of whether the command is being given to one or more than one person. The single exception is when a command is given but there is no object. In such cases, a
special prefix {pe-} is used to give a command to several people.
Examples of the imperative prefixes follow. Exclamation points in the translation indicate that it is a command.
{yIQong} <sleep!> {peQong} <(you plural) sleep!>
{HIqIp} <hit me!> {ghoqIp} <hit us!>
{yIqIp} <hit him/her/it!> {tIqIp} <hit them!>
To indicate action directed against oneself in an imperative verb (e.g., <tell yourself>), the suffix {-egh} <oneself> is used along [[-egh=>-‘egh]] with {yI-} or {pe-}
1.3 Notational conventions
As a notational convention, prefixes indicating subject and object will be translated as <subject–object;> e.g., {qa-} <I–you,> {pI-} <we–them.> Imperative prefixes will be translated similarly, preceded by the word <imperative:> {tI-} <imperative: you–them.>
Also, prefixes which can refer to male, female, inanimate, singular, and/or plural (e.g., {vI-} <I–him/her/it/them>) will be translated correctly, but usually without giving all the options (e.g., <I–him/her>). This convention will also be used when translating verbs containing these prefixes; e.g., {vIlegh} <I see
him/her.>
FONT: The Klingon Dictionary by Marc Okrand
(Remember: if you have some doubt, you can ask me about Klingon language)
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