6.2.2
Subordinate clauses
Klingon verbs that use Type 9 suffixes (other than -'a' "question" and -wI' "one who does, thing which does") always appear within a larger sentence, creating subordinate clauses. These subordinate clauses can't stand alone as complete sentences.
For example, the suffix -DI' means "when" or "as soon as," forming a subordinate clause:
- cha yIbaH qara'DI' or qara'DI' cha yIbaH – Fire the torpedoes when I command you!
(cha yIbaH – fire the torpedoes; qara'DI' – when I command you.)
Notice that the two parts can appear in either order.
Additional examples:
- bIjatlhHa'chugh qaHoH or qaHoH bIjatlhHa'chugh – If you say the wrong thing, I will kill you.
(bIjatlhHa'chugh – if you misspeak; qaHoH – I kill you.)
In Klingon, there's no separate future tense marking. Context clarifies that the action ("kill") must be in the future.
- SutlhtaHvIS chaH DIHIvpu' or DIHIvpu' SutlhtaHvIS chaH – While they were negotiating, we attacked them.
(SutlhtaHvIS – while they negotiate; chaH – they; DIHIvpu' – we attacked them.)
The past-tense meaning ("were negotiating") is shown by the suffix -pu' ("perfective," indicating a completed action) on HIv ("attack"). Translating this as "while they are negotiating, we attacked them" would be incorrect and confusing.