The table below shows the different ways verbs can use tenses, and suggests what that pattern is used for.
| Form | Grammar | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| nolom | Past | Action completed yesterday | |
| nagam | Present | Action completed today | |
| nenim | Future | Action in the future | |
| Neleb agamom | Same actor enclitic + past igisinim | 1. An action done habitually in the past but is now finished 2. Action happening for an extended time in the past | 1. Oo enn inglan agamb computer mehamonn neleb agamoom 2. Reks nim asam pigub agamoot |
| neleb igugum | Same actor enclitic + present igisinim | 1. An action always done, habitual 2. An action happening right now | 1.Sinnasim yoobug nemb igugund 2. ig ulomb igung |
| neleb igisinim | Same actor enclitic + future igisinim | An action that will be done without ceasing in the future | Moogut mehamonn neleb igituwa |
| igita, hege. | Igisinim + past | Simultaneous | Pasum mohis hogowt igita, hege. |
| nolomyam | Past + continuous | Action that happened generally in the past | Yisas onn honn ogoo tuloomoot yam |
| nagamyam | Present + continuous | 1. Action happening right now. 2. Action that happens today | 1. Pugugam yam 2. See om tulongoond yam |
| nenimyam? | Future + continuous | ||
| nelebi | Dependent + durative | An action that continues for a while | Mehamonn neleb i wi tuguloom |
| nooloomi | Past + durative | An action completed yesterday that took a while | Nom asam nooloom i wi tugub ogootooloob |
| Libigot | Perfect tense | A past action that is relevant to today | Mohis libigot nog angoom Ab nom mohis inom iguwot enn mu egee yanim |