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Adverbials typically describe how or when an action occurs. They're usually placed at the beginning of sentences, although a few notable exceptions exist. The words adverb and adverbials are both used to describe this collection of words. This usage is not consistent with how these words are generally used by linguists.
Common Klingon Adverbials
'eQ - just now, a moment ago
DaH - now
Do' - luckily
Do'Ha' - unfortunately
Hochlogh - always (emphatic)
QIt - slowly
SIbI' - immediately
SIbI'Ha' - later, eventually
SetqIn - instead, alternatively
batlh - honorably, with honor
batlhHa' - dishonorably
bong - accidentally, by accident
chIch - purposely, intentionally
chaq - perhaps
ghIq - then, subsequently
ghaytan - likely
ghaytanHa' - unlikely
jaS - differently
jaSHa' - similarly
jay' - intensely (invective)
loQ - slightly, a little bit
meQHam - ironically, incongruously
motlh - usually, typically
nIteb - alone, acting alone
nItebHa' - together
neH - only, merely, just
ngugh - then, at that time
nom - quickly, fast
not - never
pIj - often, frequently
pIjHa' - seldom, infrequently
paghlogh - never (emphatic)
pay' - suddenly
pe'vIl - forcefully
qen - recently
reH - always
roD - habitually, regularly
rut - sometimes, occasionally
tagha' - finally, at last
tlhoS - almost, barely
tlhoy - excessively, too much
tugh - soon
vabDot - even, moreover
vaj - thus, in that case
wa'logh - once
wej - not yet
wejHa' - already
Some examples:
bong yaS vIHoHpu' - I accidentally killed the officer.
batlh Daqawlu'taH - You will be remembered with honor.
vaj Daleghpu' - Then you've seen it.
The adverbials tlhoS ("almost") and wej ("not yet") have negative meanings, affecting the verb:
wej vIlegh - I don't see him/her yet.
tlhoS chab vISop - I almost ate pie (but I didn't).
tlhoS Duj vIqIp - I almost hit the ship (but missed).
With a negative verb, tlhoS means "barely":
tlhoS chab vISopbe' - I almost didn't eat pie (but I ate a little).
tlhoS Duj vIqIpbe' - I almost didn't hit the ship (but barely hit it).
Most adverbials appear at the start of sentences, but two words have special placement rules:
neH ("just, only, merely") always follows the verb or noun it modifies, emphasizing limitation or triviality:
qama' vIqIppu' neH - I merely hit the prisoner.
Duj yIQotlh neH - Just disable the ship!
yaS neH - only the officer.
It has a negative form neHHa' ("not only"):
chaH neHHa' wovmoH jul - the sun lit up not only them.
tlhIngan Hol neHHa' vIjatlh - I speak not only Klingon.
jay' ("intensely", used as invective) always comes at the sentence end and adds emotional force:
qaStaH nuq jay' - What the #@%! is happening?
mIch 'elpu' jay' - They've entered the #%@& sector!
Some adverbials can stand alone as exclamations or short commands:
nom! - Move fast!
wej! - Don't do it yet!
tugh! - Hurry up!
