Datapoint Kikongo-Kituba/Uses of the progressive marker

There are two progressive markers: kele ('be') in the present and vanda ('sit') in other tenses.With present reference, two different constructions are used for progressive and habitual, but with past reference, the same construction is used for both functions.

Values

Only progressive function

Example 58-61:
Yandi kele (ku)dia.
Yandi
he/she
kele
be
(ku)dia.
(inf).eat
He/she is eating.
Example 58-62:
yandi vand-aa dia/ vand-aka ku-dia
yandi
he/she
vand-aa
sit-pst
dia/
eat
vand-aka
sit-pst
ku-dia
inf-eat
he/she used to eat
Example 58-63:
Yandi vand-aka ku-dia.
Yandi
he/she
vand-aka
sit-pst
ku-dia.
inf-eat
He/she was eating.
Confidence:
Very certain