Language/Bulgarian/Grammar/Past-Tense

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Bulgarian Grammar → Verbs and Tenses → Past Tense

As a Bulgarian language teacher, I have found that one of the biggest challenges for beginners is understanding the past tense. In this lesson, we will explore the different forms and uses of the past tense in Bulgarian.

Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Vowels & Conditional Sentences.

Formation of the Past Tense

The past tense in Bulgarian is formed in two ways: the imperfect and the aorist. The imperfect is used to describe a past action that was ongoing or repeated, while the aorist is used for completed actions in the past.

To form the imperfect tense, simply take the stem of the verb and add the appropriate endings based on the gender and number of the subject. For example, the verb "to speak" in the imperfect tense would be:

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
говорих	go-vo-rih	I spoke (masculine singular)
говореше	go-vo-re-she	He/she/it spoke
говорехме	go-vo-re-hme	We spoke
говорехте	go-vo-reh-te	You spoke (plural)
говореха	go-vo-re-ha	They spoke

To form the aorist tense, add the appropriate stem ending based on the verb's infinitive form. For example, the verb "to read" in the aorist tense would be:

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
прочетох	pro-che-toh	I read (masculine singular)
прочете	pro-che-te	He/she/it read
прочетохме	pro-che-to-hme	We read
прочетохте	pro-che-toh-te	You read (plural)
прочетоха	pro-che-to-ha	They read

Uses of the Past Tense

In Bulgarian, the past tense is used to describe actions that took place in the past. It can be used to talk about completed actions or actions that were ongoing at a specific point in the past.

Here are some common uses of the past tense:

To talk about past events: Четох книгата (Chetoh knigata) - I read the book.
To describe a past action that was interrupted: Пиех чай, когато засекох часовника (Pieh chay, kogato zasekoh chasovnika) - I was drinking tea when I noticed the clock.
To describe a past action that was repeated: Винаги казваше "здравей" (Vinagi kazvashe "zdravey") - He always said "hello".
In reported speech: Той каза, че идва (Toy kaza, che idva) - He said he was coming.

It's important to note that there are some irregular verbs in Bulgarian that form the past tense differently, so it's important to memorize them.

Tips for Practicing the Past Tense

The best way to get comfortable with the past tense is through practice. Here are some tips for practicing and improving your use of the past tense:

Practice conjugating different verbs in both the imperfect and aorist tenses.
Read Bulgarian literature or watch movies in Bulgarian to see the past tense used in context.
Write short stories or journal entries in Bulgarian using the past tense.
Practice speaking with a language partner or tutor, using the past tense to describe past events and experiences.

Remember, it takes time and practice to master a new language tense, so be patient with yourself and keep practicing!

Sources

Table of Contents - Bulgarian Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Alphabet and sounds

Greetings and Introductions

Bulgarian Traditions

Nouns and Adjectives

At the Restaurant

Bulgarian Cinema and Literature

Verbs and Tenses

Traveling

Bulgarian Music

Future Tense and Modals

Celebrations and Festivities

Bulgarian Theatre and Performance Arts

Videos

Verbs in Bulgarian: Personal Pronouns, Present, Past and Future ...

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