Lesson 7 – introducing verb suffix -'a':

do you understand?

Beginners, welcome!

Today we are going to learn how to ask yes/no questions - that is, questions that can only be answered with “yes” or “no”.

Let's take the below sentence as an example:
bIyaj'a'? = do you understand?

This breaks down into 3 parts:

1. bI- = you--no object
   If you remember lesson 6, then you'll already know that bI- is the verb prefix used when the subject is singular you and there is no object (i.e. the verb is intransitive).

   Thus:
   bIlaD = you read
   bIHagh = you laugh
   bI'oj = you are thirsty

2. yaj = understand
   yaj is a verb that can be used both with or without an object.

   jIyaj = I understand
   tlhIngan Hol vIyaj = I understand the Klingon language

   Notice the change in the prefix used depending on whether or not there is an object:
   

   jI- = I--no object	(see it also in lesson 4)
   vI- = I--it	(see it also in lesson 2)

3. -'a' = interrogative suffix
   Adding the suffix -'a' to a verb turns the sentence into a yes / no question.

   Thus:
   bIyaj = you understand
   bIyaj'a'? = do you understand?
   

   The suffix -'a'">-'a' can also be combined with other verb suffixes to make more elaborate questions.

   In this case, -'a'">-'a' must always come after all the other verb suffixes.

   Thus:
   

   bIyajnIS'a'? = do you need to understand?	(for more on -nIS">-nIS, see lesson 5)
   bIyajbe''a'? = do you not understand?	(for more on -be'">-be', see lesson 3)
   bIyajnISbe''a'? = do you not need to understand?

To reply to all these questions:
HISlaH / HIja' = yes (both words can be used interchangeably)
ghobe' = no

Now it's your turn!

Try and make yes/no questions. Here are a few verbs for inspiration:

Qapla'!

Prepared by Aurélie Demonchaux (ghItlhjaj)