Placing an Event in Time

Level 1

ita, “now,” idi kalman, “yesterday,” and inton bigat, “tomorrow,” give temporal settings.

How It Works

Build the event clause with a suitable verb and its required participants, then add a temporal expression. Such expressions frequently occur near the end: nagawid presents completed going home, while idi kalman locates it yesterday. Changing the actor does not require changing the time phrase.

Compare Agaramid ni Leon ti lumpia inton bigat., “Leon will make lumpia tomorrow,” with Nagaramid ni Leon ti lumpia idi kalman., “Leon made lumpia yesterday.” The prefix presents the action's stage. Ongoing agar-aramid uses vowel-initial VC copying and can accompany ita, “now.”

A time expression does not supply person agreement or change voice. Keep the pronoun series and noun marking required by the predicate.

Identifying the time itself can use a different frame: the time expression precedes ti and a nominalized activity. In the reference's time-focus construction, the action expression changes; the operation involves more than moving a final phrase.

Examples (3)

  1. Agar-aramid ni Leon ti bibingka ita.

    Leon is making bibingka now.

    VC copying presents the activity as ongoing; ita locates it now.

  2. Nagawidkami idi kalman.

    We, excluding you, went home yesterday.

    Nag- marks completion, kami identifies the actors, and idi kalman specifies the time.

  3. Gumatangtayo ti kape inton bigat.

    We, including you, will buy coffee tomorrow.

    The contemplated buying form combines with future reference; tayo includes the addressee.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Placing an Event in TimeLevel 1

Learn This First

Choose the verb's aspect, then add an expression saying when.

Words in This Pattern

kalman