Page:Primary Lessons In Swatow Grammar.djvu/107

hṳ́ kâi tī-hng pit chiang-àiⁿ ũ che̍k-tiâu tōa-lōu,

in that region there will certainly be one great highway.

chiang-lâi, chiang-àiⁿ ũ chí-kâi-sṳ̄,

in the future this matter will occur.

pit àiⁿ-ũ,

there certainly will be.

bõi-tie̍h-tāⁿ,

there will be no mistake.

i a sĩ hàm-úa, úa m̄-káⁿ tho-sî,

if he call me I will not dare to decline.

hiá, àiⁿ hièⁿ-chōi-nâng khṳ̀ tî-kò-chhūe?

O, if you want so many men as that, where will you go to find them?

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Among the Chinese themselves, in common conversation, certain expressions are often heard, which indicate their mode of recognizing tense distinctions.

Thus, when in doubt as to the time when of the occurrence under consideration, one will ask :—

Chí kiãⁿ-sṳ̄, khá-pat chò-kùe a-būe?

this particular affair, has it been yet done or not or—

Chí-kâi-sṳ̄, sĩ chôiⁿ kâi-sṳ̄, a-sĩ būe-pat chò kâi-sṳ̄? —

this occurrence,—is it « former occurrence, or has it not yet been done?

To such questions answers may be given, as follows:—

chiá sĩ íⁿ-keng kâi-sṳ̄,

this is a matter past.

chiá sĩ chò-kùe kâi-sṳ̄,

this is something already done.

chi´-kiãⁿ-sṳ̄ sĩ íⁿ-keng chò kâi-sṳ̄,

this affair is already done.

chiá sĩ chôiⁿ kâi-sṳ̄,

this is a former (past) affair.

chí-kiãⁿ-sṳ̄ pat chò--kùe,

this has been done.

chí sĩ chiang-lâi kâi-sṳ̄,

this is a future matter.

chí-kâi-sṳ̄ sĩ būe-pat chò--kâi,

this is something that has not yet been done.

chiá sĩ būe-chêng ũ--kâi,

this is something that has not yet taken place.

úa tàⁿ íⁿ-keng kâi-sṳ̄,

I am speaking of things past.

úa tàⁿ būe-ũ kâi-sṳ̄,

I am speaking of tings that have not yet taken place.

úa soiⁿ-tàⁿ íⁿ-keng kâi-sṳ̄, jiên-ãu chiũ-tàⁿ chiang-lâi kâi-sṳ̄,

I will first speak of past things, after that, then (I will) speak of future things.