jkun + perfect

An Event Completed by a Reference Time

Level 5

An imperfect form of kien precedes a finite perfect; both identify the same subject.

How It Works

Combine a subject-appropriate form of jkun with a conjugated perfect: nkun ktibt, “I will have written,” or tkun ħarġet, “she will have gone out.” Both forms identify the same subject. The second verb is a finite perfect, rather than a passive participle. A deadline or temporal clause establishes the future reference point. Se can also precede the chain.

Compare se niktbu, “we will write,” with sa għada nkunu ktibna, “by tomorrow we will have written.” The latter presents completion by tomorrow. Each clause keeps its own subject: in meta tasal, Marija tkun ħarġet, your arrival supplies the reference point, while Marija's departure is already complete. The imperfect auxiliary plus perfect is documented in spoken usage as well as in a grammatical tense table; its absence from particular written datasets does not make it ungrammatical.

Examples (3)

  1. Sa filgħaxija nkun ktibt it-tweġiba.

    By this evening I will have written the answer.

    Nkun and ktibt identify me; the deadline establishes future completion.

  2. Meta tasal, Marija tkun ħarġet mill-ħanut.

    When you arrive, Marija will have left the shop.

    In this context tasal addresses you; tkun and ħarġet identify Marija.

  3. Sal-Ħadd nkunu lestejna l-kamra.

    By Sunday we will have finished preparing the room.

    Nkunu and lestejna identify us; preparing the room is the intended task.

How It Connects

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jkun + perfectLevel 5An Event Completed by a Reference Time

Learn This First

Introduce completion assessed at a future deadline. Separate the participant whose event will be complete from a participant in the temporal reference clause, and distinguish future completion from simply projecting an action.

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Patterns that build on this one.