Datapoint Fanakalo/Tense-aspect systems

For past progressive, some speakers use simple past in -ile. But since this is not very clear, more proficient speakers have evolved an anterior marker gate from Zulu kade 'long ago'. Gate is used for past progressive (with the verb marked for present tense) and for past-before-past (with the verb marked for past tense).

Values

Mixed aspectual-temporal system

Example 61-48:
Yena gate hambile.
Yena
he
gate
ant
hamb-ile.
go-pst
He had gone. OR: He previously went.
Example 61-129:
Yena idla.
Yena
3sg
idla.
eat.prs
He eats. OR: He is eating.
Example 61-130:
Yena idlile.
Yena
3sg
idl-ile
eat-pst
He ate.
Example 61-131:
Yena gate idla.
Yena
3sg
gate
ant
idla.
eat.prs
He was eating.
Confidence:
Certain