Transitive verbs

This lesson practices some transitive verbs (verbs that have a grammatical object).

Normally, a prefix is used to indicate both the subject and the object of the verb.  However, when the subject and the object are third-person (i.e. not me and not you), then no prefix is used. Because of this, even the absence if a prefix gives us information about the subject and object.  When there is no prefix, the subject must be third person (i.e. not me and not you, so he/she/it/they) and the object must either be no object or also third person (him/her/it/them).  Because the absence of a prefix gives us information about the subject and object, just as an actual prefix would, Klingon speakers will often refer to that absent prefix as if it were a type of prefix and call it the null prefix.

If we only wish to indicate that there is a subject and an object (without explicitly stating the subject and object, like if we have already been discussing the subject and object and don't need to repeat them), then the null prefix alone gives us that information.  But if we want to explicitly state who or what that subject or object are, then we have to add the nouns in to the sentence: Duj mej jagh. "The enemy leaves the ship."  Remember that the object comes before the verb and the subject goes after it in a Klingon sentence.

The lu- prefix

There is one exception to the use of the null prefix.  For one specific combination, when the subject is "they" and the object is "him", "her", or "it", the prefix: lu- is used.

Duj lumej jaghpu'. "The enemies leave the ship."

When you see the lu- prefix, you know that the subject must be plural ("they") and the object must be singular ("he", "she", or "it").

lumej. "They escape it."

Noun-Noun

If there is no conjunction (like je) after nouns next to each other, the effect is similar to possession: mara pong "Mara's name"; tlhIngan Hol "a Klingon's language, the Klingon language".

To specify one person or thing that possesses another person or thing, the two nouns (or noun phrases) are simply presented next to each other with the first noun (or noun phrase) indicating the possessor and the second noun (or noun phrase) indicating the posession:
HoD Duj "the captain's ship"
tlhIngan SoS "the mother of the Klingon"

Pronouns

Remember that pronouns can represent a noun, but you must include the appropriate prefix : maval maH "we are smart"; jIH cholegh SoH "you see me".

The prefixes are required, the pronouns are not! Pronouns can be left off, since the verb prefix shows what the subject and object are.

Pronouns are commonly used to emphasise the subject and/or object, for example, jIqet jIH 'ach bIyIt SoH "I am running but you are walking".

When the null prefix (i.e. no prefix) is used for third person subjects and objects, pronouns are sometimes used to clarify: mara legh qoq 'ej 'oH tI' ghaH "The robot sees Mara and she fixes it".

SoH vs tlhIH for you

Klingon distinguishes between "you" for speaking to one person and to several people. "You" for one person is SoH; "you" for several people is tlhIH. English sentences that use "you" are often ambiguous – they could be talking to one person or several – but Klingon sentences are clear.

There is no distinction for formality or politeness. You would address any one person, from the admiral of the fleet to your own younger sibling, as SoH.

chaH vs bIH for they, them

Remember that ghaH is used for all "beings capable of using language" (Klingons, humans, etc.) and 'oH "it" is used for other things: animals, plants, inanimate objects, etc. Klingon makes the same distinctions in the plural. chaH is used for a group of beings capable of language and bIH for a group of things (inanimate objects, animals, etc.). A mixed group will most likely use chaH bIH je.

Vocabulary