Prospective Aspect: About to happen
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the 'patrast' (ready) construction to express that an action is imminent or about to occur.
- Use 'patrast' + infinitive for immediate future: 'Patrast em gnal' (I am about to go).
- Use past tense of 'linel' for past prospective: 'Patrast ei gnal' (I was about to go).
- Add 'el' for emphasis: 'Patrast el em gnalu' (I am just about to go).
Prospective Aspect Formation
| Subject | Auxiliary | Verb (Participle) |
|---|---|---|
|
Es
|
em
|
gnalu
|
|
Du
|
es
|
gnalu
|
|
Na
|
e
|
gnalu
|
|
Menq
|
enq
|
gnalu
|
|
Duq
|
eq
|
gnalu
|
|
Nranq
|
en
|
gnalu
|
Meanings
The prospective aspect indicates that an action is on the verge of happening or was on the verge of happening at a specific past time.
Immediate Future
Action is starting right now.
“Patrast em durs galu.”
“Patrast enq sksel.”
Past Prospective
Action was imminent in the past.
“Patrast ei zangaharelu.”
“Patrast einq gnalu.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Patrast + [Aux] + [Verb]
|
Patrast em gnalu
|
|
Negative
|
Patrast + [Neg Aux] + [Verb]
|
Patrast chem gnalu
|
|
Question
|
Patrast + [Aux] + [Verb] + ?
|
Patrast es gnalu?
|
|
Past
|
Patrast + [Past Aux] + [Verb]
|
Patrast ei gnalu
|
Espectro de formalidade
Patrast em skselu. (Starting a task)
Patrast em skselu. (Starting a task)
Patrast em sksum. (Starting a task)
Sksum em. (Starting a task)
Prospective Aspect Map
Time
- Ayzhm Now
- Ancyal Past
Exemplos por nível
Patrast em.
I am ready.
Patrast em utelu.
I am about to eat.
Patrast es gnalu?
Are you about to go?
Patrast ei qnelu.
I was about to sleep.
Patrast enq skselu dasy.
We are about to start the lesson.
Patrast er zangaharelu.
He was about to call.
Patrast em nerkayacnelu im naxagicy.
I am about to present my project.
Patrast einq durs galu, erb andzrev ekav.
We were about to go out when it rained.
Patrast em linelu ayntegh hing ropeic.
I am about to be there in five minutes.
Patrast er hrazharvelu ayd mtqic.
He was about to abandon that idea.
Patrast em hamadzaynelu nra paymannerin.
I am on the verge of agreeing to his terms.
Patrast einq skselu gorcyntacy, sakayn xochyndotner arajacan.
We were on the verge of starting the process, but obstacles arose.
Fácil de confundir
Learners confuse 'I will' with 'I am about to'.
Erros comuns
Patrast em gnal
Patrast em gnalu
Patrast gnalu em
Patrast em gnalu
Patrast em gnalu er
Patrast ei gnalu
Patrast em linel gnalu
Patrast em gnalu
Padrões de frases
Patrast ___ ___ ___.
Real World Usage
Patrast em!
Don't forget the 'u'
Smart Tips
Use 'el' for emphasis.
Pronúncia
Patrast
Pronounce the 'tr' clearly as a dental cluster.
Rising
Patrast es gnalu↑
Questioning intent
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of 'Patrast' as 'Pre-trust'—you are ready to trust the action to happen.
Associação visual
Imagine a runner at the starting blocks. They are 'Patrast' (ready) to explode forward.
Rhyme
Patrast em gnalu, I'm ready to go, the action is starting, as you surely know.
Story
Armen was standing at the door. He was 'patrast' to leave. Suddenly, the phone rang. He was 'patrast' to answer it, but decided to wait.
Word Web
Desafio
Write 5 sentences about what you are 'patrast' to do in the next hour.
Notas culturais
Very common in daily speech to signal readiness.
Derived from 'patrast' (ready) + auxiliary verb.
Iniciadores de conversa
Patrast es gnalu?
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
Patrast em ____ (gnal).
Score: /1
Exercicios praticos
1 exercisesPatrast em ____ (gnal).
Score: /1
Perguntas frequentes (1)
Only for the immediate future.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Estar a punto de
Spanish uses 'de' preposition.
Être sur le point de
French is more idiomatic.
Im Begriff sein
German is more formal.
～ところだ
Japanese is post-positional.
على وشك
Arabic is strictly formal.
