Appearance
Causation
English if, only if, and because each tie a condition to an outcome. Agazan 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
Beginner
If
English if says a condition is enough for an outcome: whenever the condition holds, the outcome holds too (Azawan walks if it rains). Write the outcome first, then the if pole (root oye), then the condition as its /b/ 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/ (thoyem) when the outcome is an event (the verb). Use /ɡ/ (goyem) 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.
zazawan vowogal thoyem berehel.z-Azawan | v-walk | [th-if | b-rain]
"Azawan walks if there is rain."
zerehel goyem bagavul.z-rain | [g-if | b-cloud]
"There is rain if there are clouds."
As a plain noun, the same root is zoyel 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 olu): tholum after a verb, golum 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)
zazawan vowogal tholum berehel.z-Azawan | v-walk | [th-only-if | b-rain]
"Azawan walks only if there is rain."
zerehel golum bagavul.z-rain | [g-only-if | b-cloud]
"There is rain only if there are clouds."
As a plain noun, the same root is zolul a paper-roll.
Compare with: if (thoyem / goyem) leaves other routes possible. Only if says the outcome needs this.
| Agazan | Use | English | Same root as | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
thoyem / goyem | enough for the outcome; condition not asserted | if | oyel door | 🚪: walk through only if it opens |
tholum / golum | the outcome needs this; condition not asserted | only if / needs | olul 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 | Agazan | Cue |
|---|---|---|
| seedling | uzel | 🌱 |
| flower | avavul | 💮 |
| sun | azahel | ☀️ |
| window | ewedol | 🪟 |
| bucket | abegul | 🪣 |
| only if | tholum | 🧻 from paper-roll: without it the situation does not run |
Review:
| English | Agazan |
|---|---|
| Azawan | azawan |
| Alahen | alahen |
| Ahaben | ahaben |
| if | thoyem |
| rain | erehel |
| night | anadal |
| sing | vezehel |
| see | vahahal |
| find | vamagal |
| sit | vehahel |
English → Agazan
1. Azawan sings if there is sun.
Show answer
zazawan vezehel thoyem bazahel.
z-Azawan | v-sing | [th-if | b-sun]
2. There is a flower only if there is a seedling.
Show answer
zavavul golum buzel.
z-flower | [g-only-if | b-seedling]
3. Ahaben sees a flower only if there is a window.
Show answer
zahaben davavul vahahal tholum bewedol.
z-Ahaben | d-flower | v-see | [th-only-if | b-window]
4. There are seedlings if there is rain.
Show answer
zuzelx goyem berehel.
z-seedling-x | [g-if | b-rain]
5. Alahen finds a bucket if Azawan sings.
Show answer
zalahen dabegul vamagal thoyem barl zazawan vezehel.
z-Alahen | d-bucket | v-find | [th-if | b-that-clause] | z-Azawan | v-sing
Agazan → English
1. zavavulx goyem bazahel.
Show answer
z-flower-x | [g-if | b-sun]
There are flowers if there is sun.
2. zahaben dabegul vamagal tholum berehel.
Show answer
z-Ahaben | d-bucket | v-find | [th-only-if | b-rain]
Ahaben finds a bucket only if there is rain.
3. zuzel golum babegul.
Show answer
z-seedling | [g-only-if | b-bucket]
There is a seedling only if there is a bucket.
4. zalahen vezehel tholum barl zahaben davavul vahahal.
Show answer
z-Alahen | v-sing | [th-only-if | b-that-clause] | z-Ahaben | d-flower | v-see
Alahen sings only if Ahaben sees a flower.
5. zazawan davavulx vahahal thoyem banadal.
Show answer
z-Azawan | d-flower-x | v-see | [th-if | b-night]
Azawan sees some flowers if it is night.
Pick one
1. There is a flower if there is rain. zavavul goyem berehel. or zavavul thoyem berehel.
Show answer
zavavul goyem berehel.
z-flower | [g-if | b-rain]
The outcome is a noun (there is a flower), so the pole takes /ɡ/; /th/ attaches it to an event.
2. Alahen sits if there is night. zalahen vehahel thoyem banadal. or zalahen vehahel thoyem danadal.
Show answer
zalahen vehahel thoyem banadal.
z-Alahen | v-sit | [th-if | b-night]
The condition is the pole's extra noun, so it takes /b/ right after thoyem.
Fix it
1. Ahaben sings only if there is sun. zahaben vezehel golum bazahel.
Show answer
zahaben vezehel tholum bazahel.
z-Ahaben | v-sing | [th-only-if | b-sun]
The outcome is the singing, an event, so the pole is tholum; golum would hang it on a noun.
Intermediate
A following sentence
When the condition is a whole sentence (if Alahen sleeps), keep the same pole and use the stand-in barl as its /b/ word. The next sentence is the condition that barl stands for. Keep the pole and barl together, last in the main sentence. The condition sentence always names its own subject. See dependent clauses.
text
main sentence … thoyem / tholum / … barl [dependent sentence]
zazawan vowogal thoyem barl zalahen vezebal.z-Azawan | v-walk | [th-if | b-that-clause] | z-Alahen | v-sleep
"Azawan walks if Alahen sleeps."
zazawan vowogal tholum barl zalahen vezebal.z-Azawan | v-walk | [th-only-if | b-that-clause] | z-Alahen | v-sleep
"Azawan walks only if Alahen sleeps."
Several conditions can sit inside /b/ as a join (thoyem bagavul bozezol baom 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 (zavel a wall; zedam reciprocity).
| Agazan | Use | English | Same root as | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
thoyem / goyem | enough; condition not asserted | if | oyel door | 🚪: walk through only if it opens |
thavem / gavem | enough; condition asserted as the reason | because | avel wall | 🧱: the cause is what the result sits on |
tholum / golum | needed; condition not asserted | only if / needs | olul paper-roll | 🧻: without it the situation does not run |
tholum thavem / golum gavem | needed; condition asserted | only because / depends on | 🧻 then 🧱: needed, and named as a fact | |
thedam / gedam | both ways; condition not asserted | if and only if | edal east-west | ↔️: each side only with the other |
zazawan vowogal thavem barl zalahen vezebal.z-Azawan | v-walk | [th-because | b-that-clause] | z-Alahen | v-sleep
"Azawan walks because Alahen sleeps."
zerehel gavem bagavul.z-rain | [g-because | b-cloud]
"There is rain because of clouds."
zazawan vowogal thedam barl zalahen vezebal.z-Azawan | v-walk | [th-iff | b-that-clause] | z-Alahen | v-sleep
"Azawan walks if and only if Alahen sleeps."
Only because stacks two poles: tholum (the outcome needs it), then thavem with the condition (and it is a fact).
zazawan vowogal tholum thavem berehel.z-Azawan | v-walk | th-only-if | [th-because | b-rain]
"Azawan walks only because there is rain."
A noun after a because pole names an act or a thing, not a person. For because of Alahen, say what Alahen did as a sentence after barl. A name in that /b/ slot is a named event or place (a storm, a city), never the person.
Related form: not because of X (the outcome still holds; only the reason is denied) closes the pole with a stance join. Denying the outcome itself is vowogal vul.
English unless means if … not. Keep thoyem, but use the stand-in burl instead of barl (stand-in vowels): the outcome holds unless the next sentence is true.
zazawan vowogal thoyem burl zalahen vezebal.z-Azawan | v-walk | [th-if | b-lest-clause] | z-Alahen | v-sleep
"Azawan walks unless Alahen sleeps."
For even if, put the although pole hezom right before thoyem. You still do not claim the condition is true, and the outcome holds either way.
zazawan vowogal hezom thoyem barl zalahen vezebal.z-Azawan | v-walk | h-although | [th-if | b-that-clause] | z-Alahen | v-sleep
"Azawan walks even if Alahen sleeps."
| Agazan | English |
|---|---|
thoyem burl | unless |
hezom thoyem barl | even if |
Fault
Because names what made the outcome happen. It does not say anyone did wrong. When you mean it was their fault, change the ending on the because pole. -m is the plain cause. -l says the reason broke a rule: someone did wrong. -r says it was one cause among others.
| Agazan | Use | English | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|
thavel | the reason broke a norm | it's their fault / to blame | -l ≈ locked on a broken rule |
thavem | the reason made it happen; no fault claimed | because | -m ≈ the ordinary case |
thaver | the reason is one share among others | partly because / played a part | -r ≈ one wall of several holding it up |
zazawan vedabal thavel barl zalahen vezebel.z-Azawan | v-departure | [th-because.fault | b-that-clause] | z-Alahen | v-tell
"Azawan left, and it's on Alahen's telling: that telling was wrong."
zazawan vedabal thavem barl zalahen vezebel.z-Azawan | v-departure | [th-because | b-that-clause] | z-Alahen | v-tell
"Azawan left because Alahen told." (a cause, and no one is blamed)
zazawan vedabal thaver berehel.z-Azawan | v-departure | [th-because.share | b-rain]
"The rain is part of why Azawan left."
The rule from because matters most here: the act goes in /b/, not the person (barl zalahen vezebel Alahen's telling, never balahen). So fault lands on what someone did, which leaves room for Alahen did a wrong thing without Alahen is bad. A thing or circumstance (berehel) is fine in /b/, because there is no person to blame.
Fault is still a claim. You can hedge it with MAY right before the pole (thovum thavel barl …), or pair tholum with it for only because of that fault.
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 thegem (CAUSE, root ege) 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: ⚙️ gear: how the mechanism engages)
As plain words, the same root is zegel a gear and vegel to mesh / engage.
zazawan vowogal thegem thoyem berehel.z-Azawan | v-walk | th-CAUSE | [th-if | b-rain]
"Azawan walks if there is rain (as mechanism)."
zalahen vobohol thegem thavem bavahel.z-Alahen | v-pour | th-CAUSE | [th-because | b-fire]
"Fire is what makes Alahen pour."
On /w/ (wegem), right before an adjective, CAUSE applies only to that adjective: the mechanism produces that one property.
zazawan wegem gelevam vowogal.[z-Azawan | [w-CAUSE | g-exertion]] | v-walk
"Azawan walks, exerted, that is how the mechanism works."
Compare with: because / if name the condition (thavem / thoyem). CAUSE says that the link is the mechanism.
Make someone do it
In English Azawan makes Alahen tell, Azawan makes it happen and Alahen does the telling. Keep the one who does it (Alahen) as the subject of the verb. Put the one who makes it happen in a /b/ word right after thegem, with no pole.
zalahen vezebel thegem bazawan.z-Alahen | v-tell | [th-CAUSE | b-Azawan]
"Azawan makes Alahen tell."
When a pole follows thegem, the /b/ belongs to the pole, as above (thegem thavem bavahel because of fire, as mechanism).
Compare with: let is permission, which puts the one who allows it in the same /b/ slot. Get someone to (ask, persuade) is tell + a to stand-in.
| Agazan | English |
|---|---|
thegem + /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 | Agazan | Cue |
|---|---|---|
| pressure | agabem | 🗜️ from clamp |
| CAUSE | thegem | ⚙️ from gear: how the result comes about |
| iff | thedam | ↔️ from east-west: each side only with the other |
Review:
| English | Agazan |
|---|---|
| Azawan | azawan |
| Alahen | alahen |
| Ahaben | ahaben |
| if | thoyem |
| only if | tholum |
| because | thavem |
| although | hezom |
| rain | erehel |
| bell | ebehul |
| departure | vedabal |
| sit | vehahel |
| pour | vobohol |
| tell | vezebel |
| run | varahal |
| see | vahahal |
| scream | vezugel |
English → Agazan
1. Azawan runs if Alahen tells.
Show answer
zazawan varahal thoyem barl zalahen vezebel.
z-Azawan | v-run | [th-if | b-that-clause] | z-Alahen | v-tell
2. There is pressure because of rain.
Show answer
zagabem gavem berehel.
z-pressure | [g-because | b-rain]
3. Ahaben sits only because there is rain.
Show answer
zahaben vehahel tholum thavem berehel.
z-Ahaben | v-sit | th-only-if | [th-because | b-rain]
4. Azawan pours unless Alahen sits.
Show answer
zazawan vobohol thoyem burl zalahen vehahel.
z-Azawan | v-pour | [th-if | b-lest-clause] | z-Alahen | v-sit
5. Alahen runs, and it's the fault of Azawan's pouring.
Show answer
zalahen varahal thavel barl zazawan vobohol.
z-Alahen | v-run | [th-because.fault | b-that-clause] | z-Azawan | v-pour
6. Azawan makes Ahaben tell.
Show answer
zahaben vezebel thegem bazawan.
z-Ahaben | v-tell | [th-CAUSE | b-Azawan]
Agazan → English
1. zazawan vehahel thedam barl zalahen vobohol.
Show answer
z-Azawan | v-sit | [th-iff | b-that-clause] | z-Alahen | v-pour
Azawan sits if and only if Alahen pours.
2. zalahen vobohol thegem thavem bagabem.
Show answer
z-Alahen | v-pour | th-CAUSE | [th-because | b-pressure]
Pressure is what makes Alahen pour.
3. zahaben varahal hezom thoyem barl zazawan vezebel.
Show answer
z-Ahaben | v-run | h-although | [th-if | b-that-clause] | z-Azawan | v-tell
Ahaben runs even if Azawan tells.
4. zazawan vedabal thaver berehel.
Show answer
z-Azawan | v-departure | [th-because.share | b-rain]
The rain is part of why Azawan left.
5. zazawan vehahel thavem barl zalahen debehul vahahal.
Show answer
z-Azawan | v-sit | [th-because | b-that-clause] | z-Alahen | d-bell | v-see
Azawan sits because Alahen sees the bell.
6. zahaben vezugel thegem balahen.
Show answer
z-Ahaben | v-scream | [th-CAUSE | b-Alahen]
Alahen makes Ahaben scream.
Pick one
1. Azawan sits because Alahen pours (no one is to blame). zazawan vehahel thavem barl zalahen vobohol. or zazawan vehahel thavel barl zalahen vobohol.
Show answer
zazawan vehahel thavem barl zalahen vobohol.
z-Azawan | v-sit | [th-because | b-that-clause] | z-Alahen | v-pour
-m is the plain cause; -l would say the pouring broke a rule.
2. Alahen runs unless Ahaben tells. zalahen varahal thoyem burl zahaben vezebel. or zalahen varahal thoyem barl zahaben vezebel.
Show answer
zalahen varahal thoyem burl zahaben vezebel.
z-Alahen | v-run | [th-if | b-lest-clause] | z-Ahaben | v-tell
Unless is if … not: keep thoyem and use burl.
Fix it
1. Azawan leaves because of Alahen's telling. zazawan vedabal thavem balahen.
Show answer
zazawan vedabal thavem barl zalahen vezebel.
z-Azawan | v-departure | [th-because | b-that-clause] | z-Alahen | v-tell
A because pole takes the act, not the person: say what Alahen did after barl.
See also
- Inclusive single-item
…aom/…aol(at least X / X is enough): joins.md - Join-relations
han/huan/hon: join-across-roles.md - Restrictors
hal/hual: restrictors.md - Dependent clauses /
barl: dependents.md