Aspect System & Verb Conjugation

Aspect vs. Tense distinction

Tagalog aspect is not tense

varies

Completed does not equal past; aspect = completion status of action

Pseudoverb predicates: gusto, ayaw, kailangan

want, dislike, need -- take ng or na complement

goos-toh, ay-yaw, kah-ee-lahng-ahn

Gusto kong kumain = I want to eat; gusto niya ako = he likes me

Modal verbs: maaari, dapat, kailangan

can/may, should, must

mah-ah-ah-ree, dah-paht, kah-ee-lahng-ahn

Dapat kang kumain = You should eat; maaari = may/can

Perfect aspect with na

completed with present relevance

nah

Nakain na niya ang tinapay = He has already eaten the bread

Habitual aspect readings

incomplete aspect for habitual or generic statements

varies

Kumakain siya ng gulay = He eats vegetables (habitual generic)

Sequential actions: una...pagkatapos

first...then sequence

oo-nah ... pahg-kah-tah-pos

Kumain muna siya, pagkatapos ay naligo = First he ate, then he bathed

Prospective aspect: malapit nang

about to plus verb

mah-lah-pit nahng

Malapit na siyang umalis = He is about to leave

Mag- irregular verbs: nasal alternation

roots with nasal alternation in mang- class

varies

Mang plus pili becomes mamili; mang plus kuha becomes mangongkuha

Experiential perfect with nakaka-

have ever done something

nah-kah-kah-

Nakakain na ako ng sushi = I have (ever) eaten sushi

Discourse aspect in narrative

completed aspect in foreground; incomplete in background

varies

Narrative foreground uses completed; background states use incomplete