If…

To express the concept if, Klingons attach a type 9 verb suffix on the end of the verb: -chugh.

For example, from bIyIt you walk, you can make bIyItchugh if you walk.

As in English, the if clause can come before or after the result clause:

bIDoy'chugh yIQong! If you are tired, sleep!
yIQong bIDoy'chugh! Sleep, if you are tired!

To mirror the choices of which phrase to present first, the exercises on Duolingo will often be strict in requiring that you maintain the order of the clauses. When the if clause comes first in the language presented to you, it must also come first in the translation. Similarly, if the result clause comes first in the language presented to you, it must also come first in the translation. When translating outside of Duolingo, it will often not be important which phrase comes first, but occasionally the order has been carefully selected and does change the effect.  In Duolingo the order is treated as always important and meaningful.

then…

The Klingon word vaj is used to introduce a phrase which is the result of some other action.  It is usually translated into English as thus, therefore, so, in that case, etc.  In the same manner vaj is often used, in Klingon, to introduce the result clause of an if… then… statement.  The word then is used for many different things in English and each use has a different translation into Klingon.  When using then to introduce the result clause of an English if… then… statement, it is translated as vaj in the Klingon translation (and vice versa).

Thus the result clause will often start with vaj then, especially when the if clause comes first: e.g. bIDoy'chugh vaj yIQong! If you are tired, then sleep! It is more unusual, but not incorrect, to see vaj on the result clause when it comes first: vaj yIQong bIDoy'chugh! Then sleep, if you are tired!

However, just as in English, and as we see at the top of this Tips page, it is also common to see the two clauses side by side without using then or vaj in the result clause.

This unit teaches if sentences with conditions that are considered real or possible. Counterfactual and imagined sentences ("If you were tired, you would sleep," "If I had studied, I would have passed the test," or the like) use a different structure which is not covered in this course.

Ultimatums and exhortations

English likes to use the imperative structure to give ultimatums, like, "Buy or die!"  In the Klingon language it is uncommon to use two conflicting commands, like this, to give an ultimatum and instead we see the …-chugh vaj… structure commonly being used for this type of meaning: bIje'be'chugh vaj bIHegh!

However, there are times when it is appropriate to express the result phrase as an imperative – an action that should be taken when the condition expressed is met:

bI'IQchugh yIvang! If you are sad, act!
Dubotchugh yIpummoH! If it's in your way, knock it down!

Vocabulary

-chugh – if (verb type 9 suffix)

je' – buy (v)

vaj – thus, therefore, so, then, in that case (adv)

ja' – tell (v)

QaH – help, aid (v)

lo' – use (v)

chaq – perhaps, maybe (adv)

jor – explode (v)

ghor – break (v)