Time 1: Verb Suffixes

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In the last lesson, you learned the tlhIngan Hol question word ghorgh, which means when?

Here is one way of answering that question: through certain Type 9 verb suffixes.

Type 9 Verb Suffixes

Type 9 verb suffixes are syntactic markers:- suffixes which mark the role the verb plays in a sentence. There are more Type 9 syntactic markers than just the three presented here, but these three are time-specific:- -pa' before, -DI' when and -vIS while, during.

-vIS while, during

This is used to mark events taking place while or during the verb. As it is continuous, this suffix has to be used in conjunction with the -taH type 7 continuous suffix:-

DIHIvtaHvIS	While we are attacking them
bISuvtaHvIS	While you were fighting
jatlhtaHvIS be'	As the woman was talking

It is used as a clause in a larger sentence describing the thing that happened while this was going on. The verb with the -taHvIS suffixes is called a subordinate clause of the other sentence. The clause can be placed before or after the other sentence without affecting its meaning.

DIHIvtaHvIS tengchaH lujonta' tlhInganpu'	While we were attacking them, the Klingons captured the space station
tengchaH lujonta' tlhInganpu' DIHIvtaHvIS	While we were attacking them, the Klingons captured the space station
bISuvtaHvIS Dargh vItlhap	I took the tea while you were fighting
be' ghu je'taH be' jatlhtaHvIS	The woman was feeding the baby as she was talking
jatlhtaHvIS be' ghu je'taH be'	The woman was feeding the baby as she was talking

-DI' when, as soon as

This suffix marks a conditional based on a time when something happens. As with -taHvIS clauses, the placement of the clause can come either before or after the other sentence.

Dargh DaqemDI'	As soon as you bring the tea
Dargh DaqemDI'	When you bring the tea
tlhIngan ghuHmoHta'DI' be'nI'	When the sister alerted the Klingon
tlhIngan HoHta' jagh tlhIngan ghuHmoHta'DI'	No sooner had the sister alerted the Klingon than the enemy killed the Klingon
qara'DI'	As soon as I give the order
yIchung qara'DI'	As soon as I give the order, punch it!

-pa' before

This marks the activity as taking place before something else.

bIQongpa'	Before you go to sleep
bIQongpa'	Before you go to sleep
jIHeghpa'	Before I die
jIHeghpa'	Before I die
narghpa' 'eb	Before the opportunity escapes

"It's Too Late"

nargh 'eb The opportunity escapes (nargh escape (v), 'eb opportunity, chance (n)) is a way of expressing it's too late. Examples of this:-

yIja' narghpa' 'eb	Tell her before it's too late
vIleghta' 'ach narghpu' 'eb	I saw her but it was too late
narghDI' 'eb DaH Dapaw	NOW you turn up, when it's too late!

Next: using times and dates in tlhIngan Hol.

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