EngToVietEnglish · Vietnamese

Grammar and pronunciation

Vietnamese Tense Markers: đã, đang, sẽ

Vietnamese verbs never change form. To show when something happens, you add a small word before the verb, or simply a time word. If the context is clear, you can leave the marker out.

The markers

VietnameseEnglish
đãPast: action done
đangPresent: action in progress
sẽFuture: will
vừaJust (very recent)
mớiJust, recently
sắpAbout to
rồiAlready (goes at the end)
chưaNot yet

Examples

VietnameseEnglish
Tôi đã ănI ate
Tôi đang ănI am eating
Tôi sẽ ănI will eat
Tôi vừa ănI just ate
Tôi sắp ănI’m about to eat
Tôi ăn rồiI have already eaten
Tôi chưa ănI haven’t eaten yet
Hôm qua tôi đi chợYesterday I went to the marketThe time word is enough; đã is not needed.
Ngày mai tôi đi Hà NộiTomorrow I’m going to Hanoi

Practise this page

Test yourself on the words above with a short quiz.