14_Future & Complex Tenses

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Grammatical Concept: Spatial & Particle Tense Derivation

Asaxi expands its basic Binary Tense system (Past vs. Non-Past) by applying Spatial Prefixes and Particle Compounds to the verb. By viewing time as a physical path, the speaker can locate actions “in front of” (Future) or “behind” (Remote Past) the current moment.

1. The Explicit Future (pa-)

Used to mark an action that will definitely happen in the future. It removes the ambiguity of the Non-Past.

• Etymology: Derived from pa- (Front/Anterior).
• Logic: The future is “in front of” the speaker.
• Epenthesis: If the verb starts with a vowel, insert -x- (e.g., pa + x + ijo).

Structure: pa-[Verb]

To wo pashěsonů. “I will read.”

2. The Future Perfect (pazè-)

Used to express an action that will be completed at a specific point in the future (“Will have done”).

• Logic: Future (pa) + Past (zè). “In the future, looking back at the past.”
• Structure: pa (Outer Frame) + zè (Inner Aspect) + [Verb].

Ko pazèshěsonů måniåkam, xő pazèxoxo. she FUT-PAST-read``UNTIL-TIME , he FUT-PAST-depart “By the time she will have read, he will have departed.”])]

3. The Pluperfect (hùzè-)

Used to express an action that happened before another past action (“Had done”).

• Etymology: Derived from hù- (Behind).
• Logic: The action is “behind” the past tense.
• Structure: hù + zè + [Verb].

John hùpashěsonů, dzè shěsokam hùzèchěcho’. John PAST-FUT-read BUT library PLUP-close “John was going to read, but the library had closed (already).“

4. The Past Future / Conditional (hùpa-)

Used to express “Was going to” or a hypothetical future from a past perspective.

• Logic: Behind (hù) + Front (pa). “Standing in the past, looking forward.”
• Structure: hù + pa + [Verb].

To wo hùpaxoxo. “I was going to leave.”

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5. The Habitual Past (izozè-)

Used to express actions that occurred regularly in the past but have ceased (“Used to”).

• Etymology: izo (From/Source) + zè (Past).
• Logic: “From the past.” It marks the action as originating in a past era that is now disconnected from the present.
• Structure: izo + zè + [Verb].

To wo izozèshěsonů. SUBJ 1SG HAB-PAST-read “I used to read.” (Implies I do not read anymore, or referring to a bygone era).

6. Immediate Proximity (The o- Tenses)

Used to express actions that are immediately adjacent to the present moment (“Right here”).

• Logic: o (Here) modifies the Tense Prefix.

A. Immediate Past (ozè-) “Just now” / “Just finished.”

• Structure: o + zè + [Verb].
• Example: To wo ozètopù. (“I just dropped (it).“)

B. Immediate Future (opa-) “About to” / “On the verge of.”

• Structure: o + pa + [Verb].
• Example: To wo opaxoxo. (“I am about to leave.”)

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7. The Perfect Progressive (nixå)

Used to express an action that started in the past and continues into the present (“Have been doing for X time”).

• Mechanism: Use the Present Tense verb + a Duration Argument marked by nixå.
• Etymology: ni (Into) + x (Bridge) + å (Time).
• Meaning: “Into the time of…” / “Spanning the duration of…”
• Placement: As a temporal argument, it typically appears before the verb.
• Efficiency Rule: Because nixå contains the root å, you do not need to repeat the word “time” or “hours” if the unit is generic. Use the number alone.

Structure:

[nixå Duration] + [Present Verb]

Example:

To wo nixå 3 shěsonů. SUBJ 1SG DUR 3 read “I have been reading for 3 (hours/units).” (Lit: I, into-time-3, read).

8. The Remote / Mythic Tenses (The ko- Tenses)

Used to place actions in a timeframe that feels disconnected or far removed from the present reality (“Yonder”).

• Logic: ko (Yonder/Distal) modifies the Tense Prefix.

A. The Mythic Past (kozè-) “Long ago,” “In ancient times,” “Once upon a time.”

• Structure: ko + zè + [Verb].
• Usage: Storytelling, legends, or history that has no direct impact on the current moment.
• Example: Kozèxoxo. (“He departed long ago / Legend says he left.“)

B. The Distant Future (kopa-) “Someday,” “In the far future,” “Generations from now.”

• Structure: ko + pa + [Verb].
• Example: Kopaxoxo. (“He will depart someday.”)

9. The Subjective Past (sỏ-)

Used for memories, nostalgia, or events that exist primarily in the speaker’s mind (“It felt like…”, “I remember…”). It softens the factual edge of the past tense.

• Logic: ỏ (Middle) + s (Auditory/Sense) or derived from zè → sỏ.
• Structure: sỏ-[Verb]
• Example: To wo sỏshěsonů. (“I remember reading / I was reading [in my memory].“)

10. The Subjective Present (mi-)

Used to describe feelings, sensations, or internal states occurring right now. It frames the action as a Subjective Experience rather than an objective observation.

• Components: mi-
• Phonotactics (The -j- Bridge): If the verb root begins with a vowel, the bridge -j- is inserted to maintain the palatal quality.
  • Rule: mi + V → mijV.
  • Example: mi + ůchů → mijůchů.

Comparison:

• Standard: To wo ůchů. (“I feel…” - Reporting the state).
• Subjective: Ă wo mijůchů. (“I am feeling…” - Immersed in the sensation).

Example:

Ă wo mijůchů. SUBJ(Int) 1SG SUBJ.PRES-j-feel “That is what I am feeling.” / “I am feeling this.”