Language/Malayalam/Grammar/Past-Tense-Verbs

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Malayalam Grammar → Future and Past Tenses → Past Tense Verbs

As a Malayalam language teacher for over 20 years, I have come to understand the challenges that learners face when studying the beautiful Malayalam language. Today, we are going to be exploring the different past tenses in Malayalam and practicing using them in sentences. This lesson is part of the "Complete 0 to A1 Malayalam Course" and is aimed at complete beginners. By the end of this lesson, you should be able to construct sentences in the past tense with ease.

Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Negation & How to Use Have.

Past Tense Verbs

In Malayalam, there are three different types of past tenses - the Simple Past Tense, the Continuous Past Tense, and the Perfect Past Tense. Each of these tenses is used in specific situations and they are constructed differently.

Simple Past Tense

The Simple Past Tense in Malayalam is used to express an action or event that occurred at a definite point in the past. To construct a sentence using this tense, you would use the past participle form of the verb. For example:

Malayalam	Pronunciation	English
ഞാൻ കഴിഞ്ഞാൽ	njān kaḻin̈ṟāl	I ate
അവൻ പറഞ്ഞു	avan paṟan̈ñu	He said
നാം പോയി	nāṁ pōyi	We went
അവൾ വന്നു	avuḷ vannu	She came

Continuous Past Tense

The Continuous Past Tense in Malayalam is used to express an action or event that was ongoing in the past. To construct a sentence using this tense, you would use the past participle form of the verb along with the verb "ആയിരുന്നു" (āyirunnu). For example:

Malayalam	Pronunciation	English
ഞാൻ കഴിഞ്ഞിരുന്നു	njān kaḻin̈ṟirunnu	I was eating
അവൻ പറഞ്ഞിരുന്നു	avan paṟan̈ñirunnu	He was saying
നാം പോയിരുന്നു	nāṁ pōyirunnu	We were going
അവൾ വന്നിരുന്നു	avuḷ vannirunnu	She was coming

Perfect Past Tense

The Perfect Past Tense in Malayalam is used to express an action or event that was completed in the past. To construct a sentence using this tense, you would use the past participle form of the verb along with the verb "ആയിരുന്നു" (āyirunnu) or "ആയിരുന്നുവെന്ന്" (āyirunnuvēnnu). For example:

Malayalam	Pronunciation	English
ഞാൻ കഴിഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ടുവന്നു	njān kaḻin̈jukoṉṭuvannu	I had eaten
അവൻ പറഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ടുവന്നു	avan paṟan̈ñukoṉṭuvannu	He had said
നാം പോയിയിരുന്നു	nāṁ pōyiyirunnu	We had gone
അവൾ വന്നിരുന്നുവെന്ന്	avuḷ vannirunnuvēnnu	She had come

It's important to note that unlike the English language that uses auxiliary verbs, Malayalam verbs in past tense must agree in gender and number with the subject.

Practice Exercises

Now that you understand the different types of past tenses in Malayalam, let's put that knowledge to use. Below is a list of sentences in present tense. Rewrite each sentence in past tense.

• ഞാൻ നീ കാണിയ്ക്കുകയും ചെയ്യാൻ പറ്റുന്നു || njān nī kāṇiykkuwayuṁ ceyyān paṟṟunnu || I can see you and do
• രാമൻ പഠിക്കുന്നു || rāmaṇ paṭhikkuwayuṁ || Ram is studying
• സാധനം വാങ്ങിയിരിക്കുന്നു || sādhanam vāṅṅiyirikkunnu || Machine is purchased
• അവൻ പരിശീലനം നൽകുന്നു || avan pariśīlanam naḷkukoṉṭu || He is giving training

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've learned the basics of constructing sentences in past tense in Malayalam. This knowledge is essential in moving forward with your studies of Malayalam grammar. Remember to practice regularly so that you can perfect your skills in constructing sentences in Malayalam. See you in the next lesson!

Upon wrapping up this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Adjectives & Direct and Indirect Speech.

Table of Contents - Malayalam Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Malayalam Script

• Basic Letters
• Conjunct Consonants
• Vowel Markers
• Syllable Structure

  ---

Everyday Phrases

• Greetings and Introductions
• Asking for Directions
• Food and Drink
• Numbers and Time

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject Pronouns
• Word Order
• Nouns and Adjectives
• Present Tense Verbs

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing People
• Datings
• Work and Professions

  ---

Kerala Culture and Traditions

• The Land of Kerala
• Festivals of Kerala
• Arts and Performances
• Cuisine and Food Traditions

  ---

Future and Past Tenses

• Future Tense Verbs
• Past Tense Verbs
• Compound Sentences
• Noun Cases

  ---

Travel and Accommodation

• Booking a Hotel
• Means of Transport
• Tourist Attractions
• Emergencies

  ---

Malayalam Cinema and Literature

• Golden Era of Malayalam Cinema
• Famous Malayalam Writers and Works
• Malayalam Music

  ---

Advanced Sentence Structures

• Passive Voice
• Conditional Sentences
• Direct and Indirect Speech
• Participles and Infinitives

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Technology and Social Media

• Using Social Media
• Emoticons and Expressions
• Technology and Gadgets
• E-commerce and Banking

Other Lessons

• Pronouns
• Conjunct Consonants
• Future Tense Verbs
• Future Tense
• Adjectives
• Nouns
• Conditional Sentences
• How to Use Have
• Subject Pronouns

Sources

• Krishnan | Unlocking the verbal spine in Malayalam: Past tense is ...
• Malayalam grammar - Wikipedia
• all curry is good curry — Malayalam Lesson 9 - Past tense

Videos

SIMPLE PAST TENSE |EASY VERSION|MALAYALAM ...

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