Past-Time Clause With idi

When Something Happened

Level 2

Idi + event or state supplies a past setting; these references associate idi with non-recent past time.

How It Works

Idi can introduce a clause giving the past setting for another situation. The supplied descriptions associate it with non-recent or remote past, contrasting it with recent-past itay. They give no fixed elapsed-time boundary.

A setting can be an event or a state. In idi ubingak, “when I was a child,” the noun predicate carries the speaker pronoun. In idi addaak idiay Vigan, “when I was in Vigan,” adda supplies a location setting. Neither construction requires a completed verb prefix.

Compare the time phrase idi kalman, “yesterday,” with idi immay ni Ben, “when Ben came.” The latter contains an arrival predicate and its own participant. The examples place the setting after the main clause, following the supplied witnesses. Completed events and ongoing activities both occur with past settings; idi does not require completed aspect on every following predicate.

Examples (3)

  1. Nagkantaak iti balay idi ubingak.

    I sang at home when I was a child.

    A following noun-predicate clause supplies the childhood setting.

  2. Nagluto ni Rosa idi immay ni Ben.

    Rosa cooked when Ben came.

    Ben's completed arrival supplies the setting for Rosa's cooking.

  3. Nagadalak iti Ilokano idi addaak idiay Vigan.

    I studied Ilocano when I was in Vigan.

    Completed nag- marks the study activity; the idi clause gives a location state.

How It Connects

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Past-Time Clause With idiLevel 2When Something Happened

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Idi introduces the past event or state that supplies a time setting.

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