Subordinate clause

A subordinate clause is a sentence in which the verb has one of the following Type 9 suffixes: -chugh, -DI', -meH, -mo', -pa', or -vIS. (1) It cannot stand alone as its own sentence and must be part of a larger sentence. If the subordinate clause is removed, the remaining sentence can stand on its own.

The subordinate clause gives some condition under which the main sentence occurs, and will often have English words like if, when, before, because, while, etc.

Examples

qagh DaparHa'chugh, Qe'vam DatIvqu'.
If you like qagh, you will really enjoy this restaurant.

The order of the main sentence and the subordinate clause is flexible:

QInlIj yIjejmoH targh Dawampa'.
targh Dawampa' QInlIj yIjejmoH.
Sharpen your spear before you hunt targ.

Note: Using punctuation is not mandatory, but may make reading easier in long sentences.

See also

• Main clause
• Relative clause
• Basic sentences
• word order

References

1 : The Klingon Dictionary, p. 62, chapter 6.2.2