Transitive verbs

This lesson practises some transitive verbs (ones that have an object).

Remember that the object comes before the verb and the subject goes after it in a Klingon sentence.

The lu- prefix

The lesson introduces a new prefix: lu- is used when the subject is "they" and the object is "him", "her", or "it".

Remember that if the subject is "they" and the object is "them" or there is no object, there is no prefix. Similarly if the subject is "he", "she", or "it" and the object is "him", "her", or "it".

But the combination "they – him/her/it" needs a prefix: lu-.

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 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

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

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.