Language/Turkmen/Grammar/Past-in-the-past-(pluperfect)

This is formed by taking the gerund form –yp/ip and adding the simple past tense suffix –dy/di.

It is used when referring to something that happened previous to the time frame being talked about e.g. alypdym in:

• Men onuň ýanyna aýlandym. Men maşyn alypdym, şonuň üçin men ol ýere çalt baryp ýetdim.

I went to see him. I had bought a car, so I got there quite quickly.

The negative is formed by taking the negative past participle –man/män and adding the simple past tense suffix –dy/di e.g.

• Men entek maşyn almandym, şol sebäpli men giç galdym.

I hadn’t yet bought a car, so I was late.