Klingon includes a unique class of verb suffixes known as rovers (lengwI'mey, from leng - roam, -wI' - thing which does, and -mey - plural). Unlike regular suffixes, rovers can appear in various positions relative to other suffixes, depending on the intended meaning, except they must never appear after Type 9 suffixes. Rovers fall into two categories: negative and emphatic.

-be' (not)

The general negative suffix, -be', is used to negate whatever directly precedes it:

• vIlo'laHbe' - they are useless to me ("I cannot use them")
• jISaHbe' - I do not care
• qay'be' - it's no problem ("not a hassle")

The flexibility of -be' can dramatically change meaning, as demonstrated below:

• choHoHvIp - you are afraid to kill me
• choHoHvIpbe' - you are not afraid to kill me
• choHoHbe'vIp - you are afraid to not kill me

Note that -be' cannot form negative imperatives ("don't!"). Use -Qo' instead for negative commands. (See clarification below for combined usage of -be' and -Qo'.)

-Qo' (don't!, won't)

The rover -Qo' expresses refusal or a negative imperative ("don't"). Unlike -be', its position is fixed at the end of the verb unless followed by a Type 9 suffix:

• yIja'Qo' - don't tell him/her!
• choja'Qo'chugh - if you refuse to tell me
• HIHoHvIpQo' - don't be afraid to kill me!

Although fixed, -Qo' is considered a rover because it serves as the imperative negative counterpart to -be'.

-Ha' (undo, mis-)

This negative suffix indicates reversal, undoing, or incorrect performance of an action. It often translates like English prefixes mis-, dis-, or de- and can appear in imperatives:

• chenHa'moHlaH - it can destroy them ("undo their form")
• yIchu'Ha' - disengage it!
• bIjatlhHa'chugh - if you misspeak
• Do'Ha' - it is unfortunate ("luck has turned bad")

Despite always appearing directly after the verb, Klingon grammarians traditionally classify -Ha' as a rover.

-qu' (emphatic)

This suffix strongly emphasizes the element it immediately follows:

• yIHaDqu' - study him/her well!
• nuQaw'qu'be' - they haven't totally destroyed us

Changing the position of -qu' dramatically shifts emphasis:

• pIHoHvIpbe'qu' - we are NOT afraid to kill you
• pIHoHvIpqu'be' - we are not AFRAID to kill you
• pIHoHqu'vIpbe' - we are not afraid to KILL you

Clarifying combined use of -be' and -Qo'

-Qo' (not -be') forms negative imperatives ("don't!"). If the verb already contains -be' but is used as a positive command, keep -be' and omit -Qo':

• HIleghbe'moH - Cause me to not see! (affirmative command, not negative)

However, if the meaning is "Don't cause me to not see!" (negative imperative), you must include -Qo':

• HIleghbe'moHQo' - Don't cause me to not see!

Outside imperatives, -Qo' clearly indicates refusal:

• choleghbe'moHQo' - You refuse to cause me to not see.