Also, based on this
discussion, I understand that combining modes and tabulate is not
possible. Instead modes must be comined with natural tables.
A logical follow up questions
is if itemize can be combined with natural tables that include modes
like in the MWE below.
\startsetups
[table]
\setupTABLE [start]
[frame=off,rulethickness=0pt,offset=0pt]
\setupTABLE [column] [1]
[width=4cm,align=flushleft]
\setupTABLE [row] [1]
[toffset=5pt]
\setupTABLE [column] [2] [width=4cm,align=flushleft]
\stopsetups
\enablemode[test]
\starttext
\bTABLE
[setups=table]
\bTR \bTC Item 1 \eTC \bTC Column 1 \eTC \startmode[test]
\bTC Column 2 \eTC \stopmode \eTR
\bTR \bTC Item 2 \eTC \bTC Column 1
\eTC \startmode[test] \bTC Column 2 \eTC \stopmode \eTR
\eTABLE
\stoptext