The basic set of prefixes can be presented in a chart. (In order to make the chart as clear as possible, some prefixes are repeated.)

into a single prefix. 0 in the chart means that the particular subject-object combinations are indicated by the absence of a prefix before the verb; -- in the chart notes subject-object combinations which cannot be expressed with the Klingon verb prefix system. For such meanings, suffixes (section 4.2.1) and/or pronouns (section 5.1) must be used.

wot moHaq raS - Verb Prefix Table
 
I
you
he/her/it
we
you(pl)
they
None
jI-
bI-
0
ma-
Su-
0
me
cho-
mu-
tu-
mu-
you
qa
Du-
pI-
nI-
 
 
I
you
he/her/it
we
you(pl)
they
him/her/it
vI-
Da-
0
wI-
bo-
lu-
us
ju-
nu-
che-
nu-
 
 
I
you
he/her/it
we
you(pl)
they
you(pl)
Sa-
lI-
re-
lI-
 
 
I
you
he/her/it
we
you(pl)
they
them
vI-
Da-
0
DI-
bo-
0
 
I
you
he/her/it
we
you(pl)
they

The prefixes in the first column of the chart (headed "none") are used when there is no object; that is, when the action of the verb affects only the subject (the "doer"). The verb Qong sleep occurs with the pronominal prefixes as follows:

    jIQong I sleep

    bIQong you sleep

    Qong he/she/it sleeps, they sleep

    maQong we sleep

    SuQong you (plural) sleep

In the case of Qong he/she/it sleeps, they sleep, the exact subject would be indicated elsewhere in the sentence or by context.

This set of prefixes is also used when an object is possible, but unknown or vague. Thus, jIyaj I understand can be used when the speaker understands things in general, knows what is going on, or understands what another speaker has just said. It cannot, however, be used for understanding a language or understanding a person. Similarly, maSop we eat can be used to indicate a general act of eating, but not if a specific food is mentioned.

The remaining prefixes combine subject and object. Some of them are illustrated below, using the verb legh see.

    qalegh I see you 

    cholegh you see me

    vIlegh I see him/her/it/them 

    mulegh he/she/it sees me, or they see me                        

    Salegh I see you (plural)    

    tulegh you (plural) see me

    Dalegh you see him/her/it/them 

   Dulegh he/she/it sees you

    julegh you see us

    pIlegh we see you

    legh he/she/it sees him/her/it/them or they see them

    lulegh they see him/her/it

Imperatives

   

A special set of prefixes is used for imperatives, that is, verbs giving commands. Commands can be given only to you or you (plural).

 
you(sg)
you(pl)
None
yI-
pe-
me
HI-
HI-
you
 

you(sg)
you(pl)
him/her/it
yI-
yI-
us
gho-
gho-
 
 
you(sg)
you(pl)
you(pl)
 

you(sg)
you(pl)
them
tI-
tI-
 
you(sg)
you(pl)

Note that, with one exception, the identical prefix is used regardless of whether the command is being given to one or more than one person. The single exception is when a command is given but there is no object. In such cases, a special prefix {pe-} is used to give a command to several people. Examples of the imperative prefixes follow. Exclamation points in the translation indicate that it is a command.

    yIQong sleep! 

    peQong (you plural) sleep!

    HIqIp Hit me!

    ghoqIp Hit us!

    yIqIp Hit him/her/it!

    tIqIp Hit them!

To indicate action directed against oneself in an imperative verb (e.g., ), the suffix -'egh is used along with yI- or pe- (see section 4.2.1).

4.1.3 Notational conventions

As a notational convention, prefixes indicating subject and object will be translated as subject--object; e.g., {qa-} I--you, pI- we--them. Imperative prefixes will be translated similarly, preceded by the word imperative: tI- imperative: you--them

Also, prefixes which can refer to male, female, inanimate, singular, and/or plural (e.g., vI- I--him/her/it/them) will be translated correctly, but usually without giving all the options (e.g., I--him/her). This convention will also be used when translating verbs containing these prefixes; e.g., vIlegh I see him/her.