2013-06-27

Needs Must: -nIS, the Suffix of Necessity and Obligation

<< First Page

After looking at the Type 2 verb suffix -qang willing last time, it's time to look at the verb suffix needed for those times when someone has to do something.

-nIS need, must

-nIS indicates something that one has to do, must do, is required or obliged to do or needs to do.

reH tlhInganvetlh vISuvI am always fighting that Klingon
reH tlhInganvetlh vISuvnISI must always fight that Klingon
qagh DaSopYou are eating gagh
qagh DaSopnISYou must eat gagh
nu'oSShe represents us
nu'oSnISShe has to represent us
jagh DIjeyWe will defeat the enemy
jagh DIjeynISWe must defeat the enemy

Generally, when -nIS turns up attached to a verb, that verb does not need an imperative prefix. You can say yIjey Defeat him! or DajeynIS You must defeat him, but you can't say *yIjeynIS*.

Next: the suffix -rup ready, prepared. yIHaDrup Get ready to study it!

<< First Page

No comments:

Post a Comment

DaH yIjatlh! Speak now!