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<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Belarusian|Belarusian]]  → [[Language/Belarusian/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Belarusian/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Verbs → Past Tense</div>


<div class="pg_page_title">Belarusian Grammar → Verbs → Past Tense</div>
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== Introduction ==


As a Belarusian language teacher with over 20 years of experience, I know that learning the past tense is a crucial step in becoming a proficient Belarusian speaker. In this lesson, we will cover the basics of past tense conjugation for Belarusian verbs.  
In this lesson, we will dive into the fascinating world of Belarusian past tense verbs. The past tense is a vital aspect of the Belarusian language as it allows us to talk about actions that have already happened in the past. Understanding how to conjugate verbs in the past tense will greatly expand your ability to communicate and express yourself in Belarusian. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently form and use past tense verbs in various contexts.


== Basic Formation ==


<span link>With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: [[Language/Belarusian/Grammar/Superlatives|Superlatives]] & [[Language/Belarusian/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be|How to Use Be]].</span>
To form the past tense in Belarusian, we generally add specific endings to the stem of the verb. The endings depend on the gender, number, and person of the subject. Let's take a look at the basic formation of past tense verbs in Belarusian:
== Introduction ==


The past tense in Belarusian is used to describe a past event or action. It is formed by adding a suffix to the verb stem. The exact suffix used depends on the gender and number of the subject performing the action.
=== Masculine Verbs ===


To form the past tense, take the verb stem and add the appropriate suffix:  
For masculine verbs ending in a consonant, we add the following endings:


* For masculine singular verbs, add "-ў" to the stem.
{| class="wikitable"
* For feminine singular verbs, add "-ла" to the stem.
! Belarusian !! Pronunciation !! English
* For neuter singular verbs, add "-ла" to the stem.
|-
* For plural verbs, add "-лі" to the stem.
| аў || aŭ || I
|-
| аў || aŭ || you (singular)
|-
| аў || aŭ || he
|-
| ыў || yŭ || we
|-
| ылі || yli || you (plural)
|-
| ылі || yli || they
|}


It is worth noting that there are some irregular verbs that do not follow this pattern. However, for the purposes of this lesson, we will stick to regular verbs.
For example:
* гаварыць (to speak) becomes гаварыў (I spoke)
* чытаць (to read) becomes чытаў (he read)


Let's look at some examples:
For masculine verbs ending in -ыць, the endings are slightly different:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Belarusian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Belarusian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| я спел || ya spehl' || I sang
| ыў || yŭ || I
|-
| ыў || yŭ || you (singular)
|-
|-
| ты спявала || ty spi-ah-vah-lah || You (feminine) sang
| ыў || yŭ || he
|-
|-
| ён пісаў || yohn pee-saw || He wrote
| ылі || yli || we
|-
|-
| яны гаварылі || yah-nyh hah-vah-ry-lee || They (plural) spoke
| ылі || yli || you (plural)
|-
| ылі || yli || they
|}
|}


As you can see, the past tense verb endings differ depending on the gender and number of the subject, which can be challenging to remember. However, with practice, you'll get the hang of it.
For example:
* вучыць (to learn) becomes вучыў (I learned)
* пісаць (to write) becomes пісаў (he wrote)


== Conjugation of Past Tense Verbs ==
=== Feminine Verbs ===


To conjugate a verb in the past tense, you need to know the stem of the verb. Below are the past tense verb endings for regular Belarusian verbs in each of the four gender/number categories.
For feminine verbs ending in -ла, we add the following endings:


=== Masculine Singular Past Tense ===
{| class="wikitable"
To conjugate a masculine singular verb in the past tense, add "-ў" to the verb stem.
! Belarusian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| ла || la || I
|-
| ла || la || you (singular)
|-
| ла || la || she
|-
| лі || li || we
|-
| лі || li || you (plural)
|-
| лі || li || they
|}
 
For example:
* гаварыць (to speak) becomes гаварыла (she spoke)
* чытаць (to read) becomes чытала (we read)


Here is an example with the verb "вучыць" (to teach):
For feminine verbs ending in -ць, the endings are slightly different:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Belarusian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Belarusian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| я вучыў || ya vu-chih-oo || I taught
| ла || la || I
|-
|-
| ты вучыў || ty vu-chih-oo || You (masculine) taught
| ла || la || you (singular)
|-
|-
| ён вучыў || yohn vu-chih-oo || He taught
| ла || la || she
|-
| лі || li || we
|-
| лі || li || you (plural)
|-
| лі || li || they
|}
|}


=== Feminine Singular and Neuter Singular Past Tense ===
For example:
To conjugate a feminine or neuter singular verb in the past tense, add "-ла" to the verb stem.
* вучыць (to learn) becomes вучыла (she learned)
* пісаць (to write) becomes пісала (we wrote)


Here is an example with the verb "працаваць" (to work):
=== Neuter Verbs ===
 
For neuter verbs ending in -ла, -лаў, or -лаўла, we add the following endings:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Belarusian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Belarusian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| я працаваўла || ya pra-tsah-vah-oo-lah || I worked
| ла || la || I
|-
|-
| ты працаваўла || ty pra-tsah-vah-oo-lah || You (feminine) worked
| ла || la || you (singular)
|-
|-
| яно працаваўла || yah-no pra-tsah-vah-oo-lah || It (neuter) worked
| ла || la || it
|-
| лі || li || we
|-
| лі || li || you (plural)
|-
| лі || li || they
|}
|}


=== Plural Past Tense ===
For example:
To conjugate a plural verb in the past tense, add "-лі" to the verb stem.
* гаварыць (to speak) becomes гаварыла (it spoke)
* чытаць (to read) becomes чытала (they read)


Here is an example with the verb "гаварыць" (to speak):
For neuter verbs ending in -ць, the endings are slightly different:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Belarusian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Belarusian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| мы гаварылі || my hah-vah-ry-lee || We spoke
| ла || la || I
|-
|-
| вы гаварылі || vy hah-vah-ry-lee || You (plural) spoke
| ла || la || you (singular)
|-
|-
| яны гаварылі || yah-nyh hah-vah-ry-lee || They (plural) spoke
| ла || la || it
|-
| лі || li || we
|-
| лі || li || you (plural)
|-
| лі || li || they
|}
|}


With practice and repetition, you'll be able to memorize the past tense conjugation patterns for different verbs.
For example:
* вучыць (to learn) becomes вучыла (it learned)
* пісаць (to write) becomes пісала (they wrote)


== Using the Past Tense ==
== Irregular Verbs ==


Now that you know how to conjugate verbs in the past tense, it's important to understand how to use them in context. Generally speaking, the past tense is used to describe an action that happened in the past and is now completed.
While most verbs follow the regular pattern of conjugation in the past tense, there are a few irregular verbs that have unique forms. Here are some commonly used irregular verbs in the past tense:


Here are some examples:
=== Быць (to be) ===


* Я вучыў беларускую мову тры гады. (I studied Belarusian for three years.)
{| class="wikitable"
* Ты зрабіла гарачыну для нашай вечарынкі. (You (feminine) made borscht for our party.)
! Belarusian !! Pronunciation !! English
* Ён зрабіў заданне для школы. (He did his homework for school.)
|-
* Мы падарылі Бабулі кнігу пра шацярняю інтрыгу. (We gave Grandma a book about a thrilling adventure.)
| быў || bŭ || I was
* Вы зрабілі чудо сваёй працы. (You (plural) did a miracle with your work.)
|-
* Яны адпачылі ў Мінску на перашкодзе ў сваёй падарожжы. (They rested in Minsk on their trip.)
| быў || bŭ || you were (singular)
|-
| быў || bŭ || he was
|-
| былі || bŭli || we were
|-
| былі || bŭli || you were (plural)
|-
| былі || bŭli || they were
|}
 
=== Мець (to have) ===
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Belarusian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| меў || mew || I had
|-
| меў || mew || you had (singular)
|-
| меў || mew || he had
|-
| мелі || mėli || we had
|-
| мелі || mėli || you had (plural)
|-
| мелі || mėli || they had
|}
 
=== Робіць (to do) ===
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Belarusian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| робіў || robĭŭ || I did
|-
| робіў || robĭŭ || you did (singular)
|-
| робіў || robĭŭ || he did
|-
| робілі || robili || we did
|-
| робілі || robili || you did (plural)
|-
| робілі || robili || they did
|}
 
== Cultural Insights ==


As you can see, the past tense is used to describe completed actions in the past.  
In Belarusian culture, the past tense is often used to recount historical events and personal stories. It allows speakers to transport themselves and their listeners to a different time and place. The past tense is also employed in folklore and traditional songs, where it adds a sense of nostalgia and authenticity. Additionally, understanding the past tense in Belarusian can help you appreciate and interpret historical documents, literature, and other cultural artifacts.


== Conclusion ==  
== Practice Exercises ==


Learning the past tense is a crucial step in becoming a proficient Belarusian speaker. By understanding the conjugation patterns and how to use verbs in the past tense, you'll be able to communicate more effectively in Belarusian. In our next lesson, we'll cover the imperative mood in Belarusian. Stay tuned!
Now it's time to put your knowledge of the past tense into practice. Complete the following exercises, and then check your answers below:


Exercise 1: Conjugate the following verbs in the past tense:
1. гаварыць (to speak) - she spoke
2. чытаць (to read) - we read
3. вучыць (to learn) - you (plural) learned
4. пісаць (to write) - I wrote
5. быць (to be) - he was
6. мець (to have) - they had
7. робіць (to do) - you (singular) did
Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into Belarusian using the past tense:
1. I went to the store yesterday.
2. Did you read that book?
3. He wrote a letter to his friend.
4. We had a great time at the party.
5. They were happy to see each other.
Exercise 3: Create five sentences of your own using past tense verbs. Be creative and use different subjects and objects.
== Exercise Solutions ==
Exercise 1:
1. гаварыла
2. чыталі
3. вучылі
4. пісаў
5. быў
6. мелі
7. робіў
Exercise 2:
1. Я пайшоў у магазін учора.
2. Ты чытаў тую кнігу?
3. Ён напісаў ліст свайму сябру.
4. Мы прыемна прабылі час на вечарынцы.
5. Яны былі ўдаволеныя ўбачыць адзін аднаго.
Exercise 3:
1. Мая сястра нарадзілася ў 1990 годзе.
2. Мы з'елі найвялікую піццу ўчора.
3. Учора я паехаў у горад на аўтобусе.
4. Яны наведалі музей і ўбачылі шмат цікавых экспанатаў.
5. Мой бацька працаваў на фабрыцы ўсю сваю даросць.
== Conclusion ==
Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to conjugate Belarusian verbs in the past tense. This new skill will greatly enhance your ability to communicate in Belarusian, whether you are recounting personal experiences, discussing historical events, or simply engaging in everyday conversations. Keep practicing and exploring the rich culture and language of Belarus, and you will continue to progress on your language learning journey.


<span link>Now that you've completed this lesson, don't stop learning! Check out these related topics: [[Language/Belarusian/Grammar/Nouns|Nouns]] & [[Language/Belarusian/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]].</span>
{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=Belarusian Grammar: Verbs: Past Tense | Learn to Conjugate Belarusian Verbs in Past Tense
|title=Belarusian Grammar → Verbs → Past Tense
|keywords=Belarusian past tense, Belarusian verbs past tense, Belarusian language, Belarusian conjugation, past tense Belarusian verbs, Belarusian course, learn Belarusian, Belarusian classes
|keywords=Belarusian grammar, Belarusian verbs, past tense, Belarusian language course, language learning
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to conjugate Belarusian verbs in past tense. Understand the conjugation patterns and learn some examples to communicate more effectively in Belarusian!
|description=Learn to conjugate Belarusian verbs in the past tense in this comprehensive lesson. Explore the cultural significance of the past tense and practice your skills with engaging exercises.
}}
}}


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==Other Lessons==
==Other Lessons==
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* [[Language/Belarusian/Grammar/Prepositions|Prepositions]]
* [[Language/Belarusian/Grammar/Prepositions|Prepositions]]
* [[Language/Belarusian/Grammar/Pronouns|Pronouns]]
* [[Language/Belarusian/Grammar/Pronouns|Pronouns]]


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Latest revision as of 20:58, 20 June 2023

◀️ Infinitives — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Imperative ▶️

Belarus-Timeline-PolyglotClub.png
Belarusian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Verbs → Past Tense

Introduction[edit | edit source]

In this lesson, we will dive into the fascinating world of Belarusian past tense verbs. The past tense is a vital aspect of the Belarusian language as it allows us to talk about actions that have already happened in the past. Understanding how to conjugate verbs in the past tense will greatly expand your ability to communicate and express yourself in Belarusian. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently form and use past tense verbs in various contexts.

Basic Formation[edit | edit source]

To form the past tense in Belarusian, we generally add specific endings to the stem of the verb. The endings depend on the gender, number, and person of the subject. Let's take a look at the basic formation of past tense verbs in Belarusian:

Masculine Verbs[edit | edit source]

For masculine verbs ending in a consonant, we add the following endings:

Belarusian Pronunciation English
аў aŭ I
аў aŭ you (singular)
аў aŭ he
ыў yŭ we
ылі yli you (plural)
ылі yli they

For example:

  • гаварыць (to speak) becomes гаварыў (I spoke)
  • чытаць (to read) becomes чытаў (he read)

For masculine verbs ending in -ыць, the endings are slightly different:

Belarusian Pronunciation English
ыў yŭ I
ыў yŭ you (singular)
ыў yŭ he
ылі yli we
ылі yli you (plural)
ылі yli they

For example:

  • вучыць (to learn) becomes вучыў (I learned)
  • пісаць (to write) becomes пісаў (he wrote)

Feminine Verbs[edit | edit source]

For feminine verbs ending in -ла, we add the following endings:

Belarusian Pronunciation English
ла la I
ла la you (singular)
ла la she
лі li we
лі li you (plural)
лі li they

For example:

  • гаварыць (to speak) becomes гаварыла (she spoke)
  • чытаць (to read) becomes чытала (we read)

For feminine verbs ending in -ць, the endings are slightly different:

Belarusian Pronunciation English
ла la I
ла la you (singular)
ла la she
лі li we
лі li you (plural)
лі li they

For example:

  • вучыць (to learn) becomes вучыла (she learned)
  • пісаць (to write) becomes пісала (we wrote)

Neuter Verbs[edit | edit source]

For neuter verbs ending in -ла, -лаў, or -лаўла, we add the following endings:

Belarusian Pronunciation English
ла la I
ла la you (singular)
ла la it
лі li we
лі li you (plural)
лі li they

For example:

  • гаварыць (to speak) becomes гаварыла (it spoke)
  • чытаць (to read) becomes чытала (they read)

For neuter verbs ending in -ць, the endings are slightly different:

Belarusian Pronunciation English
ла la I
ла la you (singular)
ла la it
лі li we
лі li you (plural)
лі li they

For example:

  • вучыць (to learn) becomes вучыла (it learned)
  • пісаць (to write) becomes пісала (they wrote)

Irregular Verbs[edit | edit source]

While most verbs follow the regular pattern of conjugation in the past tense, there are a few irregular verbs that have unique forms. Here are some commonly used irregular verbs in the past tense:

Быць (to be)[edit | edit source]

Belarusian Pronunciation English
быў bŭ I was
быў bŭ you were (singular)
быў bŭ he was
былі bŭli we were
былі bŭli you were (plural)
былі bŭli they were

Мець (to have)[edit | edit source]

Belarusian Pronunciation English
меў mew I had
меў mew you had (singular)
меў mew he had
мелі mėli we had
мелі mėli you had (plural)
мелі mėli they had

Робіць (to do)[edit | edit source]

Belarusian Pronunciation English
робіў robĭŭ I did
робіў robĭŭ you did (singular)
робіў robĭŭ he did
робілі robili we did
робілі robili you did (plural)
робілі robili they did

Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]

In Belarusian culture, the past tense is often used to recount historical events and personal stories. It allows speakers to transport themselves and their listeners to a different time and place. The past tense is also employed in folklore and traditional songs, where it adds a sense of nostalgia and authenticity. Additionally, understanding the past tense in Belarusian can help you appreciate and interpret historical documents, literature, and other cultural artifacts.

Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now it's time to put your knowledge of the past tense into practice. Complete the following exercises, and then check your answers below:

Exercise 1: Conjugate the following verbs in the past tense:

1. гаварыць (to speak) - she spoke 2. чытаць (to read) - we read 3. вучыць (to learn) - you (plural) learned 4. пісаць (to write) - I wrote 5. быць (to be) - he was 6. мець (to have) - they had 7. робіць (to do) - you (singular) did

Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into Belarusian using the past tense:

1. I went to the store yesterday. 2. Did you read that book? 3. He wrote a letter to his friend. 4. We had a great time at the party. 5. They were happy to see each other.

Exercise 3: Create five sentences of your own using past tense verbs. Be creative and use different subjects and objects.

Exercise Solutions[edit | edit source]

Exercise 1: 1. гаварыла 2. чыталі 3. вучылі 4. пісаў 5. быў 6. мелі 7. робіў

Exercise 2: 1. Я пайшоў у магазін учора. 2. Ты чытаў тую кнігу? 3. Ён напісаў ліст свайму сябру. 4. Мы прыемна прабылі час на вечарынцы. 5. Яны былі ўдаволеныя ўбачыць адзін аднаго.

Exercise 3: 1. Мая сястра нарадзілася ў 1990 годзе. 2. Мы з'елі найвялікую піццу ўчора. 3. Учора я паехаў у горад на аўтобусе. 4. Яны наведалі музей і ўбачылі шмат цікавых экспанатаў. 5. Мой бацька працаваў на фабрыцы ўсю сваю даросць.

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to conjugate Belarusian verbs in the past tense. This new skill will greatly enhance your ability to communicate in Belarusian, whether you are recounting personal experiences, discussing historical events, or simply engaging in everyday conversations. Keep practicing and exploring the rich culture and language of Belarus, and you will continue to progress on your language learning journey.

Table of Contents - Belarusian Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Basics


Nouns


Family


Verbs


Food


Belarusian Holidays


Adjectives


Transportation


Belarusian Folklore


Prepositions


Environment



Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



◀️ Infinitives — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Imperative ▶️

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