The time of an event can be expressed using one or more temporal nouns in the clause, or with a separate clause in an adjunctive phrase introduced by tzai.
4.9.1. Bare Temporal Nouns
The meaning of a bare temporal noun in a clause is determined by its case.
4.9.1.1. Ablative Case: Duration Prior
The ablative case denotes duration prior to an event.
voluŋdumi hreshlaunat hraultu.
voluŋ-tu-mi
spaceship-3sg.p-v
hreshlau-at
day-abl
hraul-tu
planet-dat
He flew on a spaceship to the planet after a day.
When used with the generic temporal noun tzehr “time”, it means “later”.
ehr tzapjaketmi tzehrat shestu.
ehr
fut.indir
tzapjak-et-mi
feet-3sg-v
tzehr-at
time-abl
shest-tu
here-dat
He will come here later.
This construction usually refers to events in the past, or to approximate times in the future. For precise times in the future, see section 4.9.2.4.
4.9.1.2. Dative Case: Repeated Intervals
The dative case denotes repeated intervals of time.
balaŋgetmi hramdu hreshlautu.
balaŋ-et-mi
shuttle-3sg-v
hram-tu
city-dat
hreshlau-tu
day-dat
He takes the shuttle to the city every day.
When used with the noun tzehris “moment”, it means “always”, i. e., every moment.
shettutkmi tzehristu.
sh-et-tutk-mi
sleep-3sg-simpleton-v
tzehris-tu
moment-dat
The simpleton is always sleeping.
4.9.1.3. Patientive Case: Duration
The patientive case denotes the duration of an event.
tzapjakmumi hramdu hreshlaunu.
tzapjak-mu-mi
feet-1pl.p-v
hram-tu
city-dat
hreshlau-u
day-pat
We walked for a day to the city.
4.9.2. Adjunctive Phrases with tzai
A temporal adjunctive clause introduced by tzai can take either a subordinate clause specifying the exact time, or a single temporal noun phrase.
4.9.2.1. Governing a Subordinate Clause
A subordinate clause governed by tzai specifies the time when another event takes place.
bufen ishi tzai tzapjaketfrahtmi shestu.
buf-en
body-1sg
ish-i
home-pred
tzai
when
tzapjak-et-fraht-mi
feet-3sg-girl-v
shest-tu
here-dat
I am at home when the girl comes here.
4.9.2.2. Governing the Ablative: Past Time
When a single temporal noun is used in the ablative case, it indicates the time of a past event. Note that this should not be confused with an ablative bare temporal noun in the parent clause, which indicates duration prior to an event.
tzapjakaumi buftautu tzai hreshlaunat.
tzapjak-au-mi
feet-1sg.p-v
buf-tau-tu
body-2sg.p-dat
tzai
when
hreshlau-at
day-abl
I came to you yesterday.
tzapjaktufrahtmi shestu tzai aht hreshlaunat.
tzapjak-tu-fraht-mi
feet-3sg.p-girl-v
shest-tu
here-dat
tzai
when
aht
two
hreshlau-at
day-abl
The girl came here two days ago.
4.9.2.3. Governing the Dative: Future Deadline
A dative temporal noun governed by tzai indicates a future time by which something will be or must be done.
ŋu voluŋgemi hraultu tzai ahr hreshlautu.
ŋu
fut.hort
voluŋ-en-mi
spaceship-1sg-v
hraul-tu
planet-dat
tzai
when
ahr
two
hreshlau-tu
day-dat
I will fly by spaceship to the planet within two days.
ehr pfahretni tzai vaht hreshlautu.
ehr
fut.indir
pfahr-et-ni
corpse-3sg-become.v
tzai
when
vaht
eight
hreshlau-tu
day-dat
I hear that he will die within eight days.
4.9.2.4. Governing the Patientive: Exact Future Time
A patientive temporal noun governed by tzai indicates a precise time in the future.
ŋu tzapjakemi buftektu tzai hreshlaunu.
ŋu
fut.hort
tzapjak-en-mi
feet-1sg-v
buf-tek-tu
body-2sg-dat
tzai
when
hreshlau-u
day-pat
I will come to you tomorrow.
kuhr balaŋgetcheŋmi hramdu tzai hreis hreshlaunu.
kuhr
fut.dir
balaŋ-et-cheŋ-mi
shuttle-3sg-v
hram-tu
city-dat
tzai
when
hreis
three
hreshlau-u
days-pat
The man will ride the shuttle to the city three days from now.
For approximate time, or a time in the past, a bare temporal noun in the ablative case in the parent clause is preferred (see section 4.9.1.1).