BROAD ABSTRACT TENSE:

(Bia-ba-dAli LalA-doa)

-used to describe facts and general/vague statements as well as to show apathy about something happening

-all sentences have no chronological meaning and instead are statments outside of time

-no changes to any words/word order

-Eg: The sky is blue = A ola ki kaa.

 

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POETIC ABSTRACT TENSE:

(Ba-dAli LalA-doa Di-ninAsa)

-used in traditional poetry (ninaasa) and also used sparingly to add lots of impact to a sentence.

-has same chronological meaning as broad abstract tense

-adds suffixes -(a)ka or -(i)li or -(o)saa to every word

- if first vowel of word is aa or o then add suffix -(a)ka

- if first vowel of word is a or i then add suffix -(i)li

- if first vowel of word is y then add suffix -(o)saa

-if word ends in a consonant use expanded form of suffix, if word ends in a vowel use the simple form of the suffix

-Eg:  Dokaara  -> Dokaara-ka  /  Kamisaal -> Kamisaal-ili  /  Lynaali-> Lynaali-saa

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ABSTRACT PRESENT TENSE:

(Ba-dAli LalA-doa Di-a-bAsa)

-used for descriptive sentences and sentences in which no action occurs yet takes place in the present

-verbs: add suffix -a

-Eg: The dog is black = A onikaan ki-a siaa.

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REAL/PHYSICAL PRESENT TENSE:

(NAl-ba-dAli  LalA-doa  Di-a-bAsa)

-used when a sentence contains an action that occurs in the present

-verbs: add suffix -a

-word order becomes O V S (object, verb, subject)

-Eg: He is climbing the mountain = A balisaa aasin-a adaa do.

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PAST TENSE:

(LalA-doa Di-a-roadA)

-used for sentences that take place in the past

-was = Ki-ni

-verbs: add suffix -ni

-Eg: The dog was black = A onikaan ki-ni siaa.

 

NARRATVE PAST TENSE:

(LalA-doa Di-a-roadA Di-dAla-o'lalA)

-used when describing past events as they happened (e.g- he was running)

-has been = Ki-ani

-verbs: add suffix -ani

-the word ani always goes in front of a verb

-Eg: He was climbing the mountain = Do ani aasin-ani a balisaa.

 

DISTANT/ANCIENT PAST TENSE

(MonAla LalA-doa Di-a-roadA)

-used for sentences that take place in the distant past / used for empasis+comedy to exaggerate the amount of time since an event took place

-was = Ki-nini

-verbs: add suffix -nini

-Eg: The dog was black = A onikaan ki-nini siaa.

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SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE:

(Sidama LalA-doa Di-a-minil)

-the informal form of sentences that take place in the future

-will be = ki-min

-verbs: add suffix -min

-Eg: The dog will be black = A onikaan ki-min siaa.
 

DISTANT FUTURE TENSE:

(MonAla LalA-doa Di-a-minil)

-the informal form of sentences that take place in the distant future / used for empasis+comedy to exaggerate the amount of time until an event will take place

-will be = Ki-mimin

-verbs: add suffix -mimin

-Eg: The dog will be black = A onikaan ki-mimin siaa.
 

NARRATVE FUTURE TENSE:

(LalA-doa Di-a-minil Di-dAla-o'lalA)

-used when describing future events as they will happen (e.g- he will be running)

-has been = Ki-amin

-verbs: add suffix -amin

-the word amin always goes in front of a verb

-Eg: He will be climbing the mountain = Do amin aasin-amin a balisaa.

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FORMAL FUTURE TENSE:

(Di-jAna LalA-doa Di-a-minil)

-the formal form of sentences that take place in the future

-is going to be...= min il … ( = future verb)

-verbs: add suffix -min

-word order becomes O FV V S (object, future verb, verb, subject)

-Eg: He is going to climb the mountain = A balisaa min il aasin-min adaa do.

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DISTANT FORMAL FUTURE TENSE:

(MonAla no Di-jAna LalA-doa Di-a-minil)

-the formal form of sentences that take place in the distant future

-is going to be...= mimin il … ( = future verb)

-verbs: add suffix -mimin

-word order becomes O FV V S (object, future verb, verb, subject)

-Eg: He is going to climb the mountain = A balisaa mimin il aasin-mimin adaa do.

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