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Lesson 4: Tenses in Dusun

🔹 Part A: Present Tense

In Dusun, the present tense can be expressed in several ways depending on the formality, strength, or nature of the action. Below are four common ways to convey present actions:

✅ 1. Root verb – Imperative or casual present

This is often used in instructions or when encouraging someone. It's direct but relatively soft.

• Tangkus om osihat-sihat tinan nu
  – Run so that you will become fitter


• Akan noh supaya osukup tenaga nu
  – Eat so that you have enough energy

✅ 2. Suffix -o – Strong command

Used when issuing a strong or urgent command. It emphasizes the action and expects immediate response.

• Akano! – Eat!


• Tuliso ti surat – Write this letter


• Bobogo noh tulanut! – Beat that snake!

✅ 3. ma- / mo- prefix – Regular present tense

This is the most common form to express ongoing actions or habits. Use ma- or mo- depending on the root word.

• Manandang oku buul – I am kicking a ball


• Monulis ih John surat sinta kumaa dih Mary – John is writing a love letter to Mary

✅ 4. papa- / popo- prefix – Doing an action for someone else

This form expresses that the action is being done for the benefit of another person — often interpreted as offering a service or doing a favor.

Tip: Use papa- if the second letter of the root verb is a, otherwise use popo-.

Verb	With Prefix	Sentence Example
akan (eat)	papaakan	Papaakan oku doh tungau ku – I am feeding my cat
tagkus (run)	papatangkus	Papatangkus oku di sapi ku – I am running my cow around (for exercise)
sunud (inform)	poposunud	Poposunud oku diya – I am informing you
tungag (wake up)	popotungag	Popotungag oku do tanak ku – I am waking my child up

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🔹 Part B: Future Tense

In Dusun, there is no single special future tense ending. Future actions are usually expressed by using verbs such as mongoi or ngoyon, or by adding the verb suffixes -an / -on, often together with time words like suab (tomorrow) or tiinu (later).

1. Using mongoi – "going to …"

Mongoi is a common and natural way to talk about future plans. It roughly means "going to".

The structure usually follows:
mongoi + pronoun + verb (+ place / activity)

• Mongoi ih John hilo'd pasar – John is going to the market
• Mongoi oku hilo'd sikul suab – I am going to school tomorrow
• Mongoi oku pamagambit karabau – I am going to catch a buffalo
• Mongoi ih Mary ponsu nodop – Mary is going to take a bath later

The focus here is on the plan or movement: someone is going to do something, either soon or later, depending on the time word.

2. Using ngoyon – "about to … / going to (now)"

Ngoyon is used when someone is about to do something or there is a clear focus on the action and its object.

The structure usually follows:
ngoyon + pronoun + imperative verb (+ object)

• Ngoyon ku tandango ih buul – I am going to kick the ball
• Ngoyon dau sunudai ih tama dau – He is going to tell her dad
• Ngoyon dih John onsoko ih manuk – John is going to cook the chicken
• Ngoyon nu doribalo ih kurita – You are going to drive the car

This often feels more immediate, like "about to [do it]", and usually highlights what is going to receive the action.

3. Using verb suffixes -an / -on – "will …" (firm intention)

Another way to express future meaning is by modifying the verb root with a suffix: -an or -on. This often sounds like a firm plan or promise, similar to English "will".

The structure usually follows:
verb + -an / -on + pronoun (+ object)

• Akanon ku ilo takano – I will eat the rice
• Igitan ku ih longon dau – I will hold her hand
• Inumon ku ih waig suab – I will drink the water tomorrow
• Tandangon ku ih buul – I will kick the ball
• Sunudan dau ih tama dau – He will tell her dad
• Onsokon dih John ih manuk – John will cook the chicken
• Doribalon nu ih kurita – You will drive the car

These forms emphasize firm intent — like saying "It will definitely happen," especially when a specific object is mentioned.

3a. Imperative use of -an / -on (future / projected command)

The suffixes -an and -on are not only used for "will" (future intent), but can also appear in commands. In this case, they usually suggest that the action will happen later, is planned, or is not immediate.

Compare immediate vs projected commands:

• Akano ti tanako! – Eat this rice (now!)
• Akanon noh ti tanako. – Eat the rice later.

• Bobogo ilo tulanut! – Hit that snake (now!)
• Bobogon noh haro nogi tulanut. – Hit a snake if there is one (later / conditional).

• Tuliso ti poboroson ku. – Write what I am saying (now).
• Tulison noh nunu ih poboroson ku. – Write down what I say later.

In short:

• -o → immediate, direct command (action happens now)
• -an / -on → future, planned, or projected action (not immediate)

4. Saying "must" and "need"

English often uses must and need to for things that have to be done, sometimes with a future idea ("I must go tomorrow", "You need to study"). In Dusun these are expressed with separate words, not with a special tense.

• mositi – must (from Malay mesti)
• oporulu – need (from Malay perlu)

The pattern is usually:
mositi / oporulu + pronoun + verb (+ time word)

• Mositi oku mongoi hilo'd sikul suab – I must go to school tomorrow
• Mositi yati minum waig togumu – We must drink plenty of water
• Tulun Dusun mositi apandai manari sumazau – Dusun people must be good at Sumazau dancing
• Oporulu ko'd IC nu? – Do you need your IC?
• Amu oku Oporulu diya – I don't need you
• Oporulu oku doh Panadol – I need Panadol

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🔹 Part C: Past Tense

Dusun has a rich set of past tense forms. The affix you choose tells the listener how the action happened — whether it was deliberate, accidental, achieved with effort, done to someone, caused to happen, or simply desired. Choosing the wrong affix can completely change the meaning of your sentence.

Dusun has more verb forms for the past tense than for the present or future — reflecting a cultural tendency to narrate, explain, and discuss what has happened in great detail.