I am hungry

Beginners, welcome!

Today we're going to study how to express hunger—and the grammar behind it too!

The expression is:

jIghung = I am hungry

Which breaks down into:

jI- = verb prefix (subject: I; object: 0)
ghung = be hungry

1/ jI- = I–0

The prefix jI- is a verb prefix used when the subject is "I" and there is no object—that is, when the verb is intransitive or used intransitively.

For instance, the verb "laugh" never takes a direct object (i.e. it is intransitive): you can never say "I laugh something"; it must always be "I laugh" with no object added.

Thus, jIHagh = I laugh (Hagh = to laugh)

The prefix jI- can also be used when the object is vague or unstated:

jIlegh = I see
jIQoy = I hear

2/ ghung = be hungry

The Klingon language does not have adjectives.

Instead, it uses verbs with the meaning “to be + quality/status,” also called stative verbs.

Such verbs by definition cannot take an object and must always take “no-object” prefixes.

For example:

jI'oj = I'm thirsty ('oj = be thirsty)
jIbIr = I'm cold (bIr = be cold)

Now it's your turn! Try making a sentence using today's new structure:

jI-[verb] = I [verb]

Here are a few more verbs you can use:

Qapla'!

Prepared by Aurélie Demonchaux (ghItlhjaj)