Causation
English if, only if, and because each tie a condition to an outcome. Ageben uses a pole word for each, and the poles keep three questions apart: whether the condition is enough for the outcome, whether the outcome needs it, and whether you claim the condition is a fact.
On this page
If
English if says a condition is enough for an outcome: whenever the condition holds, the outcome holds too (Azozon walks if it rains). Write the outcome first, then the if pole (root ohe), then the condition as its bl- word. Saying if does not claim the condition is true, and other routes to the outcome may still work. It does not say how the condition leads there either: only that the link holds. (cue: 🚪 door: walk through only if it opens)
The pole's role letter follows the outcome. Use /th/ (thohem) when the outcome is an event (the verb). Use /ɡ/ (gohem) when the outcome is a noun. A common noun with a /ɡ/ word after it says the thing exists (there is …), so a noun outcome says there is X if there is Y. Keep the pole and its /b/ together.
zazozon vowurol thohem blerulal.z-Azozon | v-walk | [th-if | bl-rain]
"Azozon walks if it rains."
zerulal gohem blugalal.z-rain | [g-if | bl-cloud]
"There is rain if there are clouds."
As a plain noun, the same root is zohel a door.
Compare with: for X is enough about one item from a list of options (a book will do), use an inclusive join, not a pole.
Only if
English only if (or needs) says the outcome cannot hold without the condition. Use the same shape with the only if pole (root ebe): thebem after a verb, gebem after a noun. Other things may also be required, and again you do not claim the condition is true. (cue: 🧻 paper-roll: without it the situation does not run)
zazozon vowurol thebem blerulal.z-Azozon | v-walk | [th-only-if | bl-rain]
"Azozon walks only if it rains."
zerulal gebem blugalal.z-rain | [g-only-if | bl-cloud]
"There is rain only if there are clouds."
As a plain noun, the same root is zebel a paper-roll.
Compare with: if (thohem / gohem) leaves other routes possible. Only if says the outcome needs this.
| Ageben | Use | English | Same root as | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
thohem / gohem | enough for the outcome; condition not asserted | if | ohel door | 🚪: walk through only if it opens |
thebem / gebem | the outcome needs this; condition not asserted | only if / needs | ebel paper-roll | 🧻: without it the situation does not run |
/th/ attaches to the event. /ɡ/ attaches to the noun.
Practice
Short drills for Beginner. Try each item before opening Show answer.
Setting: a greenhouse
New words:
| English | Ageben | Cue |
|---|---|---|
| sing | vozuyel | 🧑🎤 |
| seedling | elol | 🌱 |
| flower | evelal | 💮 |
| sun | ezalol | ☀️ |
| bucket | obowal | 🪣 |
| only if | thebem | 🧻 from paper-roll: without it the situation does not run |
Review:
| English | Ageben |
|---|---|
| Azozon | azozon |
| Alazun | alazun |
| Ahelan | ahelan |
| if | thohem |
| rain | erulal |
| night | anurul |
| see | vayebel |
| find | vumewel |
| sit | vehohel |
English → Ageben
1. Azozon sings if there is sun.
Show answer
zazozon vozuyel thohem blezalol.
z-Azozon | v-sing | [th-if | bl-sun]
2. There is a flower only if there is a seedling.
Show answer
zevelal gebem blelol.
z-flower | [g-only-if | bl-seedling]
3. Ahelan sees a flower only if there is sun.
Show answer
zahelan develal vayebel thebem blezalol.
z-Ahelan | d-flower | v-see | [th-only-if | bl-sun]
4. There are seedlings if there is rain.
Show answer
zelolx gohem blerulal.
z-seedling-x | [g-if | bl-rain]
5. Alazun finds a bucket if Azozon sings.
Show answer
zalazun dobowal vumewel thohem blarl zazozon vozuyel.
z-Alazun | d-bucket | v-find | [th-if | bl-that-clause] | z-Azozon | v-sing
Ageben → English
1. zevelalx gohem blezalol.
Show answer
z-flower-x | [g-if | bl-sun]
There are flowers if there is sun.
2. zahelan dobowal vumewel thebem blerulal.
Show answer
z-Ahelan | d-bucket | v-find | [th-only-if | bl-rain]
Ahelan finds a bucket only if it rains.
3. zelol gebem blobowal.
Show answer
z-seedling | [g-only-if | bl-bucket]
There is a seedling only if there is a bucket.
4. zalazun vozuyel thebem blarl zahelan develal vayebel.
Show answer
z-Alazun | v-sing | [th-only-if | bl-that-clause] | z-Ahelan | d-flower | v-see
Alazun sings only if Ahelan sees a flower.
5. zazozon develalx vayebel thohem blanurul.
Show answer
z-Azozon | d-flower-x | v-see | [th-if | bl-night]
Azozon sees some flowers if it is night.
Pick one
1. There is a flower if there is rain. zevelal gohem blerulal. or zevelal thohem blerulal.
Show answer
zevelal gohem blerulal.
z-flower | [g-if | bl-rain]
The outcome is a noun (there is a flower), so the pole takes /ɡ/; /th/ attaches it to an event.
2. Alazun sits if it is night. zalazun vehohel thohem blanurul. or zalazun vehohel thohem danurul.
Show answer
zalazun vehohel thohem blanurul.
z-Alazun | v-sit | [th-if | bl-night]
The condition is the pole's extra noun, so it takes a bl- word right after thohem.
Fix it
1. Ahelan sings only if there is sun. zahelan vozuyel gebem bezalol.
Show answer
zahelan vozuyel thebem blezalol.
z-Ahelan | v-sing | [th-only-if | bl-sun]
The outcome is the singing, an event, so the pole is thebem; gebem would hang it on a noun.
See also
- Inclusive single-item
…aom/…aol(at least X / X is enough): joins.md - Restrictors
hal/hual: restrictors.md - Dependent clauses /
blarl: dependents.md