Vietnamese Verb "ngủ" — to sleep

ngủ

to sleep

Type

Stative verb

Patterns

6 tense/aspect forms

Simple / Bare Verb

The bare verb with no marker. Context determines whether it refers to present, past, or habitual action.

Simple statement

Structure: Subject + ngủ

Tôi ngủ.

I sleep / I slept.

Past / Completed (đã)

The marker "đã" before the verb explicitly marks a completed action or past event.

Completed marker: đã

Structure: Subject + đã + ngủ

Tôi đã ngủ.

I slept / I have slept.

Progressive (đang)

The marker "đang" expresses an action currently in progress.

Progressive marker: đang

Structure: Subject + đang + ngủ

Em đang ngủ.

He/she is sleeping.

Future (sẽ)

The marker "sẽ" expresses a future action or intention.

Future marker: sẽ

Structure: Subject + sẽ + ngủ

Tôi sẽ ngủ sớm.

I will sleep early.

Negative (không / chưa)

"Không" negates the verb generally. "Chưa" means "not yet" — implying the action may happen later.

Negative marker: không

Structure: Subject + không + ngủ

Tôi không ngủ được.

I can't sleep.

Not yet marker: chưa

Structure: Subject + chưa + ngủ

Tôi chưa ngủ.

I haven't slept yet.

Experience / Other (đã từng / vẫn)

"Đã từng" marks past experience ("have ever done"). "Vẫn" means "still" for ongoing states.

Still marker: vẫn

Structure: Subject + vẫn + ngủ

Anh ấy vẫn ngủ.

He is still sleeping.

Example Sentences

Ngủ ngon!

Sleep well! / Good night!

Tôi đã ngủ 8 tiếng.

I slept 8 hours.

Em bé đang ngủ.

The baby is sleeping.