Datapoint Papiamentu/Tense-aspect systems

Most descriptions agree that the set of preverbal markers includes lo, ta, a, and tabata, but there is no agreement on their interpretation. Nonetheless, it seems safe to say that Papiamentu does not have a purely temporal system, in that at least one marker, tabata, is clearly a tense-aspect marker: It combines tense reference (past or anterior) with an aspect interpretation (imperfective) (Goilo 1953, Muller 1989, Andersen 1990, Birmingham 1970, Kouwenberg 2007)-although it may be more accurate to say that it marks non-perfective past rather than a true imperfective.
Most authors characterize a as marking a (tense-neutral) perfective. In contrast, Maurer (1988a) characterizes a, like tabata, as [+anterior], distinguished from tabata as perfective, and suggesting that these forms should be constrained to similar tense reference.
The more peripherally placed marker lo has been described as a future tense marker (Birmingham 1970), a posterior tense marker (Maurer 1988a), an Irrealis Mood marker (Kouwenberg 2007), and a Finite Mood marker (Kouwenberg & Lefebvre 2007).
Even more controversial is the interpretation of preverbal ta (see Feature 46 "Tightness of link between progressive marker and verb").

Values

Mixed aspectual-temporal system

Example 47-99:
Karchi pa e konsierto tabata kosta 45 dòlar.
Karchi
ticket
pa
for
e
the
konsierto
concert
tabata
pst
kosta
cost
45
45
dòlar.
dollar
Concert tickets costed 45 dollars.

Source: Kouwenberg and Lefebvre 2007: 27

Example 47-100:
E mucha a yena e barí ku awa./ E mucha tabata yena e barí ku awa.
E
def
mucha
child
a
asp
yena
fill
e
def
barí
barrel
ku
with
awa./
water
E
def
mucha
child
tabata
pst
yena
fill
e
def
barí
barrel
ku
with
awa.
water
The child (has) filled the barrel with water./ The child was filling the barrel with water.

Source: Muller 1989: 229-230

Confidence:
Very certain