Tense, Aspect & Time Particles

đã...rồi

combined for strong emphasis on completion

Stresses that an action is fully and definitely finished

sẽ vs sắp

general future vs imminent future

sắp signals something is about to happen very soon

đang vs còn

ongoing action vs "still" ongoing

còn implies the action continues against some expectation

không vs chưa (với quá khứ)

not vs not yet, with past reference

chưa leaves open the possibility the action will still occur

hay, thường, vẫn

often, usually, still/persist

Mark habitual, repeated, or continuing actions

rồi (nối câu)

narrative sequencing: then/and then

Links successive events in a story

đi ăn rồi về

went to eat, then came back

dee an zoy vuh

Aspect combined with serial verbs to narrate a sequence

mỗi khi / mỗi lần

every time/whenever (habitual clauses)

moy khee / moy lun

Introduce recurring situations

lúc đó / khi đó

at that time (past reference point)

look daw / khee daw

Anchors a narrative to a specific past moment

sau đó / sau này

after that/afterward

sow daw / sow nay

Common sequencing connectors in narration