I need to eat
Beginners, welcome!
Last time we saw how to say “I’m hungry”—now we find out another way to express one’s needs: the verb suffix -nIS.
jISopnIS = I need to eat
Here, jI- is the prefix showing the subject is “I” with no object (see Lesson 4), and Sop is “to eat.”
The suffix -nIS expresses that the subject needs to perform the verb’s action.
Thus:
Hov HaDnIS tej = the scientist needs to study the star
tlhIngan Hol vIghojnIS = I need to learn the Klingon language
jI'oj, jItlhutlhnIS = I’m thirsty, I need to drink
If you don’t need something, add the negative suffix -be' after -nIS:
jIDoy'be', jIQongnISbe' = I’m not tired, I don’t need to sleep
Now it’s your turn! Here are more verbs for practice:
| Sop = to eat | yep = to be careful | qIm = to pay attention, concentrate |
| tlhutlh = to drink | po' = be expert, skilled | qaw = to remember |
| Qong = to sleep | Sagh = be serious | laD = to read |
Qapla'!
Prepared by Aurélie Demonchaux (ghItlhjaj)