present incompletive action; also, a present state or condition.
Lai is one of the three primary Sama time aspect particles. This particle does not seem to be used in interrogative constructions.
When appearing without other aspect particles or time words, it can often be translated with the English present or present
perfect. Lai can also precede the past-tense marker bey , as seen in the first example below. See the discussion in the "Grammar Notes".
Can [you] imagine, all the money has been spent by him!
Can you imagine, he has spent all the money!
Good that I was able to duck, if [I] hadn't [been able to duck], I would have already been hit.
Good that I was able to duck, if not, it would have hit me.
Because of the child, if the child says, "I want to eat fish," even though there are big waves, this father of his goes spearfishing
getting fish for him.
The bottles are broken to pieces.
His lower legs are welting by having been beaten with the belt.
They are now able to get married./ They have already been able to marry.
She has now been left behind./ She is now left behind.
From a folktale
I was already walking on tiptoe, before he was able to realize [that I was leaving].