✨Javanese Modal Verbs and Aspects ✨
First, Javanese doesn’t really have what we usually call as grammatical tense. But, it has what we call aspect. Still, I will give the usual English tenses in order to recall some similarity to English language.
a. Zero modal (simple present)
When we want to say about our daily activities or just simply give a statement, we can use plain verb without any modal.
-) Aku atuku roti sabên dina.
EN: I buy bread every day.
b. Lagi (present continuous)
When we want to say about something in progress or about in the sate of doing activities, we can use Lagi as a modal.
-) Aku lagi angumbah klambi.
EN: I’m washing the clothes.
a. Zero modal (simple past)
Yes, in the Javanese we use aspects. So, we can state something that happened in the past without using any modal. Instead, we can use any adverb to specify the time.
-) Simbahku angisahi gelas.
EN: My grandparent washed the glasses.
-) Simbahku angisahi gelas mau wêngi.
EN: My grandparent washed the glasses last night. (it’s more specific)
b. Wis (general past, present perfect)
When we want to say about something we have already done or simply have been done, we can use Wis modal.
-) Aku wis alunga mênyang pasar.
EN: I have gone to the market.
EN: The chicken has been fed.
If we want to make it something like past perfect, we can add adverb to make it more specific.
-) Aku wis alunga mênyang pasar Sênin wingi.
EN: I had gone to the market last Monday.
-) Dhek mau wêngi nalika aku wis angombe teh, adhiku anangis.
EN: Last night when I had drunk the tea, my younger sibling cried.
c. Bubar (immediate past)
When we want to say that something has happened just now, we can use Bubar modal. Form: Bubar + Verb
EN: I have eaten just now.
-) Aku lagi wae bubar alunga mênyang pasar.
EN: I have been gone to the market just now. (with emphasis by adverb)
a. Bakal (general future, distant)
When we want to say something in the future in general especially if it’s rather distant, we can use Bakal modal.
-) Aku bakal bisa dolanan piyano.
EN: I will be able to play piano. (maybe someday, who knows)
-) Aku bakal amangan bakmi ramen.
EN: I will eat the ramen noodle (maybe someday or eventually)
-) Mêngko, rotine bakal tak pangan.
EN: I will eat the bread later. (or eventually)
If you wonder about using zero modal, yes you can. As you can see, Javanese doesn’t really have any tense and everything can be inferred by context and intuition. Many Asian languages do this, I mean about omitting information that seems important in English perspective. And if you need to make it more specific, you can add adverb.
-) Mêngko yen adhiku wis mangkat mênyang pawiyatan, tak telêpun maneh.
EN: I’ll call you again later when my younger sibling has gone to school.
-) Besuk/suk mben, omah iki sok wis dadi abeda maneh.
EN: The house will be different (again) someday.
b. Arêp (future, intentional)
When you want to say about something you are going to do in the future, you can use Arêp modal. Form: Arêp + Verb
-) Aku arêp alunga saka kene.
EN: i am going to go from here.
-) Aku arêp telêpun kowe mêngko sore.
EN: I am going to call you this afternoon/evening.
When you want to say that you are just about to do something or it’s really in the near future, you can use Ameh modal.
-) Aku ameh turu ing kasur.
EN: I’m about to sleep on the bed.
-) Bar iki, kuwi ameh tak tulis.
EN: I’m about to write that just after this.
To add some understanding, the Ameh modal can also be used to describe that something almost happened.
EN: The glass almost fell (in to the table).
-) Aku ameh anjiglok saka loteng telu.
EN: I almost fell from the third floor.
Generally, you can tell from the context whether the Ameh modal means ‘ be about to’ or ‘almost. That’s all about the Javanese tenses and aspects.
If you have any question or suggestion, please message me. Thank you.
