I show that the temporal, aspectual and modal system of Tsou is based, as in most Formosan languages, on a basic modal dichotomy where realis contrasts with irrealis.

• 一般台湾南岛语时貌的呈现有两种方法来表示，一种是利用动词的词缀（包括焦点系统）或重叠，另一种则是籍由时间副词。