Hrmitt reference grammar


4.5. Future Tense

Future tense is indicated by the presence of one of several evidentials that indicate why or how the speaker thinks a future event will occur. Where present, the present tense forms of the prononimal affixes are used in the clause.

4.5.1. Speaker's Intent: ŋu

In the 1st person, the hortative marker ŋu is used to indicate the speaker's intent to perform an action:

ŋu tzapjakemi dastu.

ŋu
hort.1sg
tzapjak-en-mi
feet-1sg-v
dast-tu
there-dat

I will walk over there.

4.5.2. Hearsay: ehr

In the other persons, ehr is used to indicate future tense based on hearsay or second-hand (indirect) evidence:

ehr tzapjaketmi tzehrat shestu.

ehr
fut.indir
tzapjak-et-mi
walk-3sg-v
tzehr-at
time-abl
shest-tu
here-dat

I heard that he will come here later.

4.5.3. Direct Evidence: kuhr

When the speaker has direct evidence that an event will happen, e. g. the actor involved has said so directly to the speaker, kuhr is used instead:

kuhr tzapjaketmi tzehrat shestu.

kuhr
fut.dir
tzapjak-et-mi
walk-3sg-v
tzehr-at
time-abl
shest-tu
here-dat

He told me that he will come here later.

4.5.4. Deduction: muhr

When the speaker by his own considerations, thoughts, reasonings, or logical deductions arrive at the conclusion that some future event will occur, muhr is used:

muhr tzapjaketmi tzehrat shestu.

muhr
fut.infer
tzapjak-et-mi
walk-3sg-v
tzehr-at
time-abl
shest-tu
here-dat

I deduce that he will come here later.

4.5.5. Wish: ŋuhr

When the speaker merely wishes or hopes an event will happen, ŋuhr is used:

ŋuhr tzapjaketmi tzehrat shestu.

ŋuhr
fut.opt
tzapjak-et-mi
walk-3sg-v
tzehr-at
time-abl
shest-tu
here-dat

I hope that he will come here later.

4.5.6. Interrogative: aihr

When asking whether an event will happen in the future, the future interrogative aihr is used:

aihr ehrlutekmi kuhenu?

aihr
fut.q
ehrlu-tek-mi
tongue-2sg-v
kuh-en-u
ear-1sg-pat

Will you speak to me?

aihr is always accented.