TGV/MGV - Lesson 33
Ba-|Iyi-Gol-Vuhlkansu - Tupa 33

NOUNS ENDING IN ~su vs. ~fa
Vel-Zhitlar Shahtaun k'>su< tehnat >fa<

After creating the previous lesson, it became obvious that we needed to take the next step and explain the difference between the two endings ~su and ~fa which are added to verb roots to make a specific type of noun.

The suffix ~su is used to make a verb root into a noun describing a person or sentient being that does the action of the verb. For example, let's use the weak verb kum-tor (to catch). A person or sentient being that "catches" is a "catcher", and in TGV/MGV this is kumsu. (Note that verbs ending in "-tor" drop that ending to give the root.)

The suffix ~fa is similarly used to make a verb root into a noun describing a non-sentient being or animal that does the action of the verb. For example, let's use kum-tor again. On Vulcan there is a type of small bird that is translated as "insect-catcher". In TGV/MGV this is ravot-kumfa.

The endings ~su and ~fa are used exactly the same with regular strong verbs such as smertau (which gives us smertausu and smertaufa) and irregular strong verbs such as yokul (which gives us yokulsu and yokulfa).

Be sure to use the correct ending so as not to insult any person or sentient being.


There are no exercises or examples for this lesson.

The student is encouraged to experiment using these words in sentences.

This lesson was put online on
October 26, 2006.




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operating as the Vulcan Language Institute™.

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