Iff and CAUSE
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A following sentence
When the condition is a whole sentence (if Alazun sleeps), keep the same pole and use the stand-in blarl as its /b/ word. The next sentence is the condition that blarl stands for. Keep the pole and blarl together, last in the main sentence. The condition sentence always names its own subject. See dependent clauses.
main sentence … thohem / thebem / … barl [dependent sentence]
zazozon vowurol thohem blarl zalazun vezuvel.z-Azozon | v-walk | [th-if | bl-that-clause] | z-Alazun | v-sleep
"Azozon walks if Alazun is asleep."
zazozon vowurol thebem blarl zalazun vezuvel.z-Azozon | v-walk | [th-only-if | bl-that-clause] | z-Alazun | v-sleep
"Azozon walks only if Alazun is asleep."
Several conditions can sit inside /b/ as a join (thohem blugalal blozulal baem if clouds and/or snow).
Related form: to join two full sentences with and also, use a clause join (xam), not a pole.
Because, iff, and only because
Beginner's if and only if do not claim the condition is true. The table completes the set. Pick the pole by which way the link runs (the condition is enough, the outcome needs it, or both) and by whether you claim the condition is a fact. Poles take -m, on /th/ after a verb and on /ɡ/ after a noun. As plain words the roots take ordinary endings (zahul a wall; zehom reciprocity).
| Ageben | Use | English | Same root as | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
thohem / gohem | enough; condition not asserted | if | ohel door | 🚪: walk through only if it opens |
thahum / gahum | enough; condition asserted as the reason | because | ahul wall | 🧱: the cause is what the result sits on |
thebem / gebem | needed; condition not asserted | only if / needs | ebel paper-roll | 🧻: without it the situation does not run |
thebem thahum / gebem gahum | needed; condition asserted | only because / depends on | 🧻 then 🧱: needed, and named as a fact | |
thehom / gehom | both ways; condition not asserted | if and only if | ehol east-west | ↔️: each side only with the other |
zazozon vowurol thahum blarl zalazun vezuvel.z-Azozon | v-walk | [th-because | bl-that-clause] | z-Alazun | v-sleep
"Azozon walks because Alazun is asleep."
zerulal gahum blugalal.z-rain | [g-because | bl-cloud]
"There is rain because of the clouds."
zazozon vowurol thehom blarl zalazun vezuvel.z-Azozon | v-walk | [th-iff | bl-that-clause] | z-Alazun | v-sleep
"Azozon walks if and only if Alazun is asleep."
Only because stacks two poles: thebem (the outcome needs it), then thahum with the condition (and it is a fact).
zazozon vowurol thebem thahum blerulal.z-Azozon | v-walk | th-only-if | [th-because | bl-rain]
"Azozon walks only because of the rain."
A noun after a because pole names an act or a thing, not a person. For because of Alazun, say what Alazun did as a sentence after blarl. A name in that /b/ slot is a named event or place (a storm, a city), never the person.
English unless means if … not. Keep thohem, but use the stand-in blurl instead of blarl (stand-in vowels): the outcome holds unless the next sentence is true.
zazozon vowurol thohem blurl zalazun vezuvel.z-Azozon | v-walk | [th-if | bl-lest-clause] | z-Alazun | v-sleep
"Azozon walks unless Alazun is asleep."
For even if, put the although pole hezem right before thohem. You still do not claim the condition is true, and the outcome holds either way.
zazozon vowurol hezem thohem blarl zalazun vezuvel.z-Azozon | v-walk | h-although | [th-if | bl-that-clause] | z-Alazun | v-sleep
"Azozon walks even if Alazun is asleep."
| Ageben | English |
|---|---|
thohem blurl | unless |
hezem thohem blarl | even if |
CAUSE
English that is what makes it happen points at how a result comes about (the mechanism), not only at a condition that holds. Add the stance word thewom (CAUSE, root ewo) right before a pole: the pole names the condition, and CAUSE says that condition is how the result is produced. CAUSE can also take its own /b/ word for the one who makes it happen (below). (cue: ⚙️ machine: how the mechanism engages)
As plain words, the same root is zewol a machine and vewol to operate / engage.
zazozon vowurol thewom thohem blerulal.z-Azozon | v-walk | th-CAUSE | [th-if | bl-rain]
"Azozon walks if it rains." (rain as the mechanism)
zalazun vowuvul thewom thahum blavulul.z-Alazun | v-pour | th-CAUSE | [th-because | bl-fire]
"Fire is what makes Alazun pour."
On /w/ (wewom), right before an adjective, CAUSE applies only to that adjective: the mechanism produces that one property.
zazozon wewom gelunem vowurol.[z-Azozon | [w-CAUSE | g-exertion]] | v-walk
"Azozon walks, straining." (something is causing the strain)
Compare with: because / if name the condition (thahum / thohem). CAUSE says that the link is the mechanism.
English habit / triggered by, when a cue is how the act is produced, uses this same stack: thewom right before the pole, and the cue in the pole's /b/. Use thahum when you claim the cue as a fact, thohem when you do not. The verb stays the ordinary act.
zazozon vowurol thewom thahum blerulal.z-Azozon | v-walk | th-CAUSE | [th-because | bl-rain]
"Rain is what makes Azozon walk."
Compare with: always (hual) says the act holds at every time, with no cue. Only when it rains (herulal hal) says when the walking counts, not that rain produces it.
Make someone do it
In English Azozon makes Alazun speak, Azozon makes it happen and Alazun does the speaking. Keep the one who does it (Alazun) as the subject of the verb. Put the one who makes it happen in a bl- word right after thewom, with no pole.
zalazun vezuyol thewom blazozon.z-Alazun | v-tell | [th-CAUSE | bl-Azozon]
"Azozon makes Alazun speak."
When a pole follows thewom, the /b/ belongs to the pole, as above (thewom thahum blavulul because of fire, as mechanism).
Compare with: Get someone to (ask, persuade) is tell + a to stand-in.
| Ageben | English |
|---|---|
thewom + /b/ | make (causer in /b/) |
Practice
Short drills for Intermediate. Try each item before opening Show answer.
Setting: a dam control room
New words:
| English | Ageben | Cue |
|---|---|---|
| pressure | ayewam | 🗜️ from clamp |
| CAUSE | thewom | ⚙️ from machine: how the result comes about |
| iff | thehom | ↔️ from east-west: each side only with the other |
Review:
| English | Ageben |
|---|---|
| Azozon | azozon |
| Alazun | alazun |
| Ahelan | ahelan |
| if | thohem |
| only if | thebem |
| because | thahum |
| although | hezem |
| rain | erulal |
| bell | eboral |
| departure | vudurul |
| sit | vehohel |
| pour | vowuvul |
| tell | vezuyol |
| run | veruvol |
| see | vayebel |
| scream | veyamul |
English → Ageben
1. Azozon runs if Alazun speaks.
Show answer
zazozon veruvol thohem blarl zalazun vezuyol.
z-Azozon | v-run | [th-if | bl-that-clause] | z-Alazun | v-tell
2. There is pressure because of the rain.
Show answer
zayewam gahum blerulal.
z-pressure | [g-because | bl-rain]
3. Ahelan sits only because of the rain.
Show answer
zahelan vehohel thebem thahum blerulal.
z-Ahelan | v-sit | th-only-if | [th-because | bl-rain]
4. Azozon pours unless Alazun sits.
Show answer
zazozon vowuvul thohem blurl zalazun vehohel.
z-Azozon | v-pour | [th-if | bl-lest-clause] | z-Alazun | v-sit
5. Azozon makes Ahelan speak.
Show answer
zahelan vezuyol thewom blazozon.
z-Ahelan | v-tell | [th-CAUSE | bl-Azozon]
Ageben → English
1. zazozon vehohel thehom blarl zalazun vowuvul.
Show answer
z-Azozon | v-sit | [th-iff | bl-that-clause] | z-Alazun | v-pour
Azozon sits if and only if Alazun pours.
2. zalazun vowuvul thewom thahum blayewam.
Show answer
z-Alazun | v-pour | th-CAUSE | [th-because | bl-pressure]
Pressure is what makes Alazun pour.
3. zahelan veruvol hezem thohem blarl zazozon vezuyol.
Show answer
z-Ahelan | v-run | h-although | [th-if | bl-that-clause] | z-Azozon | v-tell
Ahelan runs even if Azozon speaks.
4. zazozon vehohel thahum blarl zalazun deboral vayebel.
Show answer
z-Azozon | v-sit | [th-because | bl-that-clause] | z-Alazun | d-bell | v-see
Azozon sits because Alazun sees the bell.
5. zahelan veyamul thewom blalazun.
Show answer
z-Ahelan | v-scream | [th-CAUSE | bl-Alazun]
Alazun makes Ahelan scream.
Pick one
1. Alazun runs unless Ahelan speaks. zalazun veruvol thohem blurl zahelan vezuyol. or zalazun veruvol thohem blarl zahelan vezuyol.
Show answer
zalazun veruvol thohem blurl zahelan vezuyol.
z-Alazun | v-run | [th-if | bl-lest-clause] | z-Ahelan | v-tell
Unless is if … not: keep thohem and use blurl.
Fix it
1. Azozon left because Alazun spoke. zazozon vudurul thahum balazun.
Show answer
zazozon vudurul thahum blarl zalazun vezuyol.
z-Azozon | v-departure | [th-because | bl-that-clause] | z-Alazun | v-tell
A because pole takes the act, not the person: say what Alazun did after blarl.