This lesson introduces the type 2 verb suffixes, which indicate things such as how much choice the subject has in performing the action of the verb or their willingness or readiness to do so.

-nIS

-nIS means need; sometimes must or have to can also be appropriate. maqetnIS we need to run (we must run, we have to run)

-qang

-qang means willing and indicates that the subject of the verb does not mind taking a certain action under the circumstances and does so willingly: tera' vIjaHqang I am willing to go to Earth.

-vIp

-vIp means afraid and shows that the subject is afraid to do the given action: tlhIngan Soj SopvIp tera'ngan the earthling is afraid to eat the Klingon food (Soj food, Sop eat).

You will rarely hear the -vIp suffix from a Klingon with a prefix indicating that the subject is I or we—it's a cultural taboo to indicate that the speaker (or a group including the speaker) is afraid to do something.

-beH

-beH means ready or set up and shows that the device acting as the grammatical subject is in a state where it can perform the required action: labbeH it is ready to transmit (data) (lab transmit data)

-rup

-rup is similar to -beH, but is used with sentient subjects (this time, no language use is necessary, so animals, for example, qualify); it means ready or prepared and is used when the subject (a sentient being) is able to take on a task because they are ready to do so: qaleghrup I am ready to see you.

Order of suffixes

With all of these suffixes, remember that the negative suffix -be' follows the part of the word that is negated—this means that it's important to look at the order of suffixes in a word.

laDvIpbe' has -be' after -vIp and so means he is not afraid to read it (he is -vIpbe' to laD), while laDbe'vIp has -be' after laD and so means he is afraid to not read it; he is afraid not to read it (he is -vIp to laDbe').

Or as another example, Duj wItI'nISbe' has -be' after -nIS and so means we do not need to repair the ship; we do not have to repair the ship while Duj wItI'be'nIS has -be' after tI' and so means we must not repair the ship; we need to not repair the ship.

Note that only one type 2 verb suffix can be placed on a single verb. It is impossible to use type 2 verb suffixes alone to indicate that someone is willing to be afraid to do something or willing to be ready to do something. For these kinds of meanings much more complicated constructions, probably consisting of multiple sentences, will need to be used.

wo'vaD

In this unit, you will encounter the word wo'vaD. The -vaD suffix will be explained in detail in a later unit, but for now, note that this word is not used as the object or subject of a verb, but is instead placed before the OVS structure to indicate that the action is done on behalf of the Empire.