Lesson 5 – verb suffix -nIS:

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 conveying the subject is “I” and there is no object (as seen in lesson 4), and {Sop} is the verb “to eat”.

The suffix {-nIS} expresses that the subject needs to carry out the action described by the verb.

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

And if you don't need something, simply 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! Try to say what you need and/or don't need to do! 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


Prepared by Aurélie Demonchaux (ghItlhjaj)