Aspect markers indicate the “temporal flow” of a state. They are considered another ways of looking at actions in context, unlike tense markers (Li, 1991). In English, for example, the states of “I eat” and “I am eating” are different in aspects.
Here are some examples of aspect markers in Hmong:
Markers indicating the progression of an action:
|
Marker
|
Meaning
|
Example
|
Translation
|
|
tseem
|
still, ongoing
|
Lawv tseem tsis tau npaj tiav.
|
They are not yet prepared.
|
|
pheej
|
still, ongoing
|
Kuv pheej tsis nco txog li es.
|
I keep forgetting.
|
|
tabtom
|
in the process of
|
Kuv tabtom ua.
|
I am doing it now.
|
|
yuav
|
going to, in the process
|
Kuv yuav ua.
|
I am going to do it.
|
|
tsaug
|
in the process of, complete
|
Lawv tsaug zog tas lawm.
|
They are asleep.
|
Markers indicating the completeness of an action:
|
Marker
|
Meaning
|
Example
|
Translation
|
|
lawm
|
already
|
Lawv twb noj mov tas lawm.
|
They have already aten.
|
|
xwb
|
only, already
|
Nws tsis nyiam noj mov. Nws noj nqaij xwb.
|
He doesn't like to eat rice. He only likes to eat meat.
|
|
tau
|
have completely
|
nws txais tau tsab ntawv.
|
He was able to receive the letter.
|
|
nav/nev
|
correctness in a statement
|
Nws twb yeem tau ntawv nev.
|
See, he is able to read.
|
|
cuag
|
able to reach (an object)
|
Nws ncav cuag kwg los ma.
|
He really is able to reach it.
|
|
txog
|
able to reach (a place)
|
Nws mus txog tsev lawm.
|
He is already at his house.
|
|
es
|
at all/even now
|
Kuv tsis paub li es.
|
I don't know at all, really.
|
|
laib
|
able to receive
|
Kuv txais laib.
|
I am able to catch it.
|
|
tiag
|
really, truly
|
Av tsij noj tiag.
|
Please continue eating.
|
|
tseg
|
completely dicard
|
Nws muab daim ntawv pov tseg.
|
He threw away the piece of paper.
|
