Vong grammar lacks distinctions of tense as such: that is, the notions past, present, and future are not encoded grammatically by forms of the verb. However, there is a relatively complex system of verbal aspect, distinguishing notions such as events, states, and processes. Unlike tense in English, aspect markers are grammatically optional. Aspect markers are placed immediately after the verb.
uang perfect (retrospective)
uim experiential
oin continuous
iong habitual
aun iterative
ieng contemplative
uong simultaneous
Fueng léng diám.
He eats fish. He ate fish. He will eat fish.
Fueng léng uang diám.
He has eaten fish. He ate fish.
Fueng léng uim diám.
He has eaten fish before. He had the occasion to eat fish.
Fueng léng oin diám.
He is eating fish. He is in the process of eating fish.
Fueng léng iong diám.
He eats fish all the time. He usually eats fish.
Fueng léng aun diám.
He eats fish regularly. He eats fish, then something else, then fish again.
Fueng léng ieng diám.
He intends to eat fish. He will eat fish.
Fueng léng uong diám cháung.
While eating fish, he talked.
It must be stressed that aspect markers are not indicators of tense. For example, a perfective action may take place in the past or future.
Mái ngŕum fueng léng uang diám, fueng kú.
Yesterday after he had eaten fish, he slept.
Včim ngŕum fueng léng uang diám, fueng kú.
Tomorrow after he eats fish, he will sleep.