How to determine the past tense of a verb? You will receive the answer to the question from the submitted article. In addition, we will tell you how the past tense of the verb in the English language is formed.
General information about verbs
Before you talk about what the past tense of the verb is, you should find out what it is in general.
A verb is a part of speech that indicates the state or action of an object, and also answers the questions “what to do?” or "what to do?" It should be specially noted that they vary in inclinations, are transitional and intransitive, and can refer to a perfect or imperfect form.
Verb tenses in Russian
This part of the speech can be put in the following times:
The past tense of the verb
The part of speech in the past tense shows that this or that action has occurred up to the present moment. However, when describing past situations or events in life, the present is often used instead of the past tense.
How to form a verb in the past tense? We find out together
The past tense of the verb in Russian is formed from the initial form (i.e. the infinitive) by adding the suffix -l- (ran, wanted, talked, helped, etc.). However, there are exceptions to this rule. So, verbs that are in an indefinite form, of an imperfect form and ending in -nit, -ty or -ch, are transformed in the past tense (singular masculine) without using the aforementioned suffix (shear - shear, etc.).
Do past tense verbs change?
The past tense of the verb allows this part of speech to vary in numbers. In turn, the singular can easily be declined by childbirth. It should also be noted that verbs in the past tense in the plural do not change in persons.
Past tense verb forms by meaning
Verbs in the past tense can have perfect and aoristic meaning (only of a perfect form). Let's consider them in more detail:
- Perfect means a certain action that was performed in the past, but its result is preserved in the present. Let us give an example: Andrey, you froze, were you on the street?
- Aoristic meaning indicates any action that was performed in the past, but it is in no way connected with the present. Here is an example: I got up and went to my mother. It should also be noted that such a meaning is usually realized in homogeneous predicates. For example: The boy smiled, pressed a toy to himself and calmed down.
Verbs in the past tense can have the following grammatical meanings (only of imperfect form):
- An unbounded single concrete action that was committed before the moment of speech. For example: Once on New Year's Eve, girls wondered.
- An action that is repeated all the time until the moment of speech. For example: Annushka flashed pens every time, and her eyes lit up with delight.
- An action that constantly happens. For example: Impassable forests stretched almost to the river.
- Generalized fact. For example: Someone asked you.
Elapsed Time: English Verbs
As mentioned above, the past tense is the form of the verb, indicating an already ever completed action. In English, this change of words is called "Past Tenses." It should also be noted that this time is different in duration and quality. In other words, in English there is a simple past tense called Past Simple, a long past tense called Past Continuous, and a past perfect - Past Perfect. Consider each of the forms in more detail.
Past simple
Such a time expresses absolutely any action that has taken place in the past. Past Simple is formed quite simply: if the word refers to an irregular verb, then you need to take its second form from the table. If the verb is correct, then the ending -ed is added to it . If you need to ask a question, you should use the auxiliary word did.
By the way, the past tense of the verb to be has 2 conjugations, namely were and was. As a rule, were used together with nouns only in the plural, and was - in the singular. At the same time, with the pronoun you (translated as you or you), only were needed.
Past continuous
This form differs from the previous one in that in this case, the action of the past is shown in the process. As a cheat sheet, it is recommended to remember that the presented verb will have an imperfect appearance. It should also be noted that for the formation of Past Continuous, only knowledge of the following forms of the verb to be is needed: were and was.
Past Perfect or the perfect long past tense
For the formation of such a time will require perfect knowledge of all forms of verbs (irregular and correct). It should also be noted that for Past Perfect, the auxiliary word have is necessary. By the way, the past tense of the have verb has the following form: had.
One cannot fail to note the fact that Past Perfect also includes such a time as Past Perfect Continuous, which has the following Russian meaning: the perfect long past tense. For its formation, it is necessary to use the auxiliary verb to be, which should be put in the Past Perfect tense form, that is, had been.
To summarize
Knowing the basics of the formation of past tense verbs in Russian and English, you can not only correctly deliver a speech during personal communication with foreigners or your compatriots, but also write a competent letter to them.