Vong grammar lacks distinctions of tense as such: that is, the notions past, present, and future are not encoded grammatically by forms of the verb. However, there is a relatively complex system of verbal aspect, distinguishing notions such as events, states, and processes. Unlike tense in English, aspect markers are grammatically optional. Aspect markers are placed immediately after the verb.
uang perfect (retrospective)
uim experiential
oin continuous
iong habitual
aun iterative
ieng contemplative
uong simultaneous
Fueng l�ng di�m.
He eats fish. He ate fish. He will eat fish.
Fueng l�ng uang di�m.
He has eaten fish. He ate fish.
Fueng l�ng uim di�m.
He has eaten fish before. He had the occasion to eat fish.
Fueng l�ng oin di�m.
He is eating fish. He is in the process of eating fish.
Fueng l�ng iong di�m.
He eats fish all the time. He usually eats fish.
Fueng l�ng aun di�m.
He eats fish regularly. He eats fish, then something else, then fish again.
Fueng l�ng ieng di�m.
He intends to eat fish. He will eat fish.
Fueng l�ng uong di�m ch�ung.
While eating fish, he talked.
It must be stressed that aspect markers are not indicators of tense. For example, a perfective action may take place in the past or future.
M�i ng�um fueng l�ng uang di�m, fueng k�.
Yesterday after he had eaten fish, he slept.
V�im ng�um fueng l�ng uang di�m, fueng k�.
Tomorrow after he eats fish, he will sleep.