How to determine the past tense of a verb? You will receive the answer to the question asked from the presented article. In addition, we will tell you about how the past tense of a verb is formed in English.
General information about verbs
Before talking about what the past tense of a verb is, you should find out what it is.
A verb is a part of speech denoting the state or action of an object, as well as answering the questions “what to do?” or “what to do?”. It should be especially noted that they change according to moods, they are transitive and intransitive, they can refer to the perfect or imperfect form.
Russian verb tenses
This part of speech can be used in the following tenses:
- real;
- future;
- past.
Past tense of the verb
The past tense part of speech indicates that an action has taken place before the present moment. However, when describing past situations or events in life, instead of the past tense, it is very often usedpresent.
How to form a verb in the past tense? Finding out together
The past tense of a verb in Russian is formed from the initial form (that is, the infinitive) by adding the suffix -l- (ran, wanted, talked, helped, etc.). However, this rule has exceptions. So, verbs that are indefinite, imperfective and ending in -thread, -ty or -ch are converted into the past tense (in the masculine singular) without using the above suffix (strich - strig, etc.).
Do past tense verbs change?
The past tense of the verb makes it possible for this part of speech to change in numbers. In turn, the singular can easily be declined by gender. It should also be noted that verbs in the past tense in the plural do not change by person.
Past tense forms of verbs by meaning
Verbs in the past tense can have perfect and aoristic meanings (only perfective). Consider them in more detail:
- Perfect denotes a certain action that was performed in the past, but its result was preserved in the present. Let's give an example: Andrey, you're cold, were you outside?
- Aoristic meaning indicates some action that was performed in the past, but it has nothing to do with the present. Here is an example: I got up and went to my mother. It should also be noted that such a value is usually implemented inhomogeneous predicates. For example: The boy smiled, hugged the toy and calmed down.
Verbs in the past tense can have the following grammatical meanings (incomplete only):
- Unlimited single specific action that was committed before the moment of speech. For example: Once on New Year's Eve, the girls were guessing.
- An action that is repeated all the time until the moment of speech. For example: Annushka clapped her hands every time, and her eyes lit up with delight.
- Action that is constantly happening. For example: Impenetrable forests stretched almost to the very river.
- Generalized fact. For example: Someone asked you.
Past tense: English verbs
As mentioned above, the past tense is a form of a verb that indicates an action that has already been performed. In English, this change of words is called "Past Tenses". It should also be noted that such time differs in duration and quality. In other words, in English there is a simple past tense called "Past Simple", a past continuous tense called "Past Continuous", and a past perfect called "Past Perfect". Consider each of the forms in more detail.
Past Simple
This tense expresses absolutely any action that took place in the past. Past Simple is formed quite simply: if the word refers to an irregular verb, then for this you need to take its second form from the table. ATif the verb is correct, then the ending -ed is added to it. If you need to ask a question, then 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 is 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.
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 form. It should also be noted that for the formation of Past Continuous, only knowledge of the following forms of the verb to be is required: were and was.
Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous
For the formation of such a tense, perfect knowledge of all forms of verbs (irregular and regular) is required. It should also be noted that the auxiliary word have is required for the Past Perfect. By the way, the past tense of the verb have has the following form: had.
It is impossible not to note the fact that the Past Perfect also includes such a time as the Past Perfect Continuous, which has the following Russian meaning: perfect long past tense. To form it, you must use the auxiliary verb to be, which should be put in the Past Perfect tense form, that is, had been.
Summarize
Knowing the basics of the formation of past tense verbs in Russian and English, you can not only correctly deliver speech during personal communication with foreigners or your compatriots, but also write them a competent letter.
