Learning a new language can be both an exciting and challenging journey. For English speakers diving into Armenian, understanding the nuances of verb tenses is crucial. One of the essential aspects of Armenian grammar is mastering the past tense, especially for verbs ending in “-el.” This article will provide a comprehensive guide to understanding and using these verbs effectively, ensuring you gain confidence in your Armenian language skills.
Introduction to Armenian Verbs
Armenian verbs are fascinating in their complexity and richness. They are typically divided into several conjugation groups based on their infinitive endings, with “-el” being one of the most common. The past tense in Armenian is used to describe actions that have already happened, similar to its usage in English. However, the conjugation patterns differ significantly, making it essential to understand the specific rules governing these verbs.
The Basics of “-el” Ending Verbs
Verbs ending in “-el” form a significant part of the Armenian verb lexicon. The infinitive form of these verbs ends in “-ել” (el), and they are conjugated differently based on the tense, mood, and aspect. For the past tense, the stem of the verb is modified, and specific endings are added to indicate the subject performing the action.
To illustrate, let’s consider the verb “թռչել” (tṛčel), which means “to fly.” The process of conjugating this verb in the past tense involves several steps, which we will detail in the following sections.
Forming the Past Tense for “-el” Verbs
To conjugate “-el” ending verbs in the past tense, follow these steps:
1. **Remove the “-el” ending** from the infinitive form to find the verb stem.
2. **Add the appropriate past tense endings** to the verb stem based on the subject.
Let’s break down these steps using the verb “թռչել” (tṛčel):
1. **Remove the “-el” ending**:
– Infinitive: թռչել (tṛčel)
– Stem: թռչ- (tṛč-)
2. **Add the appropriate past tense endings**:
– I (Ես): թռչեցի (tṛčeți)
– You (informal) (Դու): թռչեցիր (tṛčețir)
– He/She/It (Նա): թռչեց (tṛčeț)
– We (Մենք): թռչեցինք (tṛčeținḳ)
– You (formal/plural) (Դուք): թռչեցիք (tṛčețik’)
– They (Նրանք): թռչեցին (tṛčețin)
As illustrated, the verb stem “թռչ-” (tṛč-) remains constant, and the past tense endings are added according to the subject pronouns.
Common “-el” Ending Verbs
To further familiarize yourself with “-el” ending verbs, here are some common verbs and their past tense forms:
1. **Խաղալ** (khaghal) – to play
– I played: խաղացի (khaghați)
– You played: խաղացիր (khaghațir)
– He/She/It played: խաղաց (khaghaț)
– We played: խաղացինք (khaghaținḳ)
– You (plural) played: խաղացիք (khaghațik’)
– They played: խաղացին (khaghațin)
2. **Կարդալ** (kardal) – to read
– I read: կարդացի (kardați)
– You read: կարդացիր (kardațir)
– He/She/It read: կարդաց (kardaț)
– We read: կարդացինք (kardaținḳ)
– You (plural) read: կարդացիք (kardațik’)
– They read: կարդացին (kardațin)
3. **Ուտել** (utel) – to eat
– I ate: կերա (kera)
– You ate: կերար (kerar)
– He/She/It ate: կերավ (kerav)
– We ate: կերանք (keranḳ)
– You (plural) ate: կերաք (kerak’)
– They ate: կերան (keran)
Notice that while the verb stems remain constant, the endings change according to the subject pronoun, providing clarity on who performed the action.
Practice and Application
Learning the theory is essential, but practice is crucial for mastering Armenian past tense verbs. Here are some exercises to help you apply what you’ve learned:
1. **Conjugate the following verbs in the past tense**:
– Գրել (grel) – to write
– Խոսել (khosel) – to speak
– Ուսուցանել (usutsanel) – to teach
2. **Translate the following sentences into Armenian**:
– I wrote a letter.
– They spoke to the teacher.
– We taught the students.
3. **Create your own sentences using the past tense** with “-el” ending verbs. Try to use different subjects to practice all the conjugations.
Answers to Exercises
1. **Conjugation**:
– Գրել (grel)
– I wrote: գրեցի (greți)
– You wrote: գրեցիր (grețir)
– He/She/It wrote: գրեց (greț)
– We wrote: գրեցինք (greținḳ)
– You (plural) wrote: գրեցիք (grețik’)
– They wrote: գրեցին (grețin)
– Խոսել (khosel)
– I spoke: խոսեցի (khosetsi)
– You spoke: խոսեցիր (khosetsir)
– He/She/It spoke: խոսեց (khosets)
– We spoke: խոսեցինք (khosetsinḳ)
– You (plural) spoke: խոսեցիք (khosetsik’)
– They spoke: խոսեցին (khosetsin)
– Ուսուցանել (usutsanel)
– I taught: ուսուցանեցի (usutsanetsi)
– You taught: ուսուցանեցիր (usutsanetsir)
– He/She/It taught: ուսուցանեց (usutsanets)
– We taught: ուսուցանեցինք (usutsanetsinḳ)
– You (plural) taught: ուսուցանեցիք (usutsanetsik’)
– They taught: ուսուցանեցին (usutsanetsin)
2. **Translations**:
– I wrote a letter: Ես նամակ գրեցի (Yes namak greți).
– They spoke to the teacher: Նրանք ուսուցչին խոսեցին (Nranḳ usuts’chin khosetsin).
– We taught the students: Մենք ուսանողներին ուսուցանեցինք (Menḳ usanoghnerin usutsanetsinḳ).
Advanced Considerations
As you become more comfortable with the basic conjugation patterns, you can start exploring more advanced topics. These include irregular verbs, compound tenses, and the use of auxiliary verbs. Understanding these complexities will further enhance your proficiency in Armenian.
Irregular Verbs
Some “-el” ending verbs are irregular and do not follow the standard conjugation patterns. For example:
– **Տալ** (tal) – to give
– I gave: տվեցի (tveți)
– You gave: տվեցիր (tvețir)
– He/She/It gave: տվեց (tveț)
– We gave: տվեցինք (tveținḳ)
– You (plural) gave: տվեցինք (tveținḳ)
– They gave: տվեցին (tvețin)
Irregular verbs require memorization and practice to master, but they are essential for fluent communication.
Compound Tenses
In addition to the simple past tense, Armenian also uses compound tenses to express different aspects of past actions. For example, the past perfect tense indicates actions completed before another past action. To form the past perfect tense, combine the past tense of the auxiliary verb “ունենալ” (unenal) – to have with the past participle of the main verb.
Example:
– I had written: Ես գրել էի (Yes grel ei).
Auxiliary Verbs
Auxiliary verbs play a significant role in Armenian grammar. They are used to form compound tenses and convey different nuances of meaning. The most common auxiliary verbs are “լինել” (linel) – to be and “ունենալ” (unenal) – to have.
Example:
– I was writing: Ես գրում էի (Yes grum ei).
– I had eaten: Ես կերել էի (Yes kerel ei).
Conclusion
Mastering the past tense for “-el” ending verbs in Armenian is a crucial step in your language learning journey. By understanding the conjugation patterns, practicing regularly, and exploring advanced topics, you will gain confidence and proficiency in using these verbs. Remember, consistent practice and exposure to the language are key to becoming fluent. So, keep practicing, and soon you’ll find yourself navigating Armenian grammar with ease!
