FutOptPfr: Grammatical expression of future time is optional; when used, it is expressed through the use of an auxiliary verb in addition to some form of the main verb, usually nonfinite.

(1) wēr-l-əm.

make-prs-1sg

‘I’m making something.’ (Onina 2009: 35)

(2) wēr-ti pit-l-əm.

make-inf start-prs-sg1

‘I’m going to make something.’ (Onina 2009: 35)

The future tense can be expressed by the present tense form of the verb, or the auxiliary + infinitive construction in Synja Khanty (Honti 1984: 52, Onina 2009: 33‒39, Nikolaeva 1999a: 26‒28).