Past Tense with -si-
Take the stem of the ma-infinitive and add -sin, -sid, -s, -sime, -site, -sid: elama → elasin.
How It Works
The simple past (lihtminevik) tells what happened at a past time. Most verbs use -si-:
- elama: ma elasin, sa elasid, ta elas, me elasime, te elasite, nad elasid
- rääkima: ma rääkisin, sa rääkisid, ta rääkis, me rääkisime, te rääkisite, nad rääkisid
Build it on the ma-infinitive stem, which usually has the strong grade: rääkima → rääkisin (present räägin), hakkama → hakkasin. The ta form ends in plain -s: elas, rääkis. Note that sa and nad share one form: sa elasid, nad elasid.
Verbs with a one-syllable stem add -is in the ta form: laulma → laulsin, laulis; ostma → ostsin, ostis; võtma → võtsin, võttis. When the stem already ends in s, only one s remains: tõusma → tõusin, tõusis; jooksma → jooksin, jooksis.
Examples (5)
- Ma elasin kaks aastat Tartus.
I lived in Tartu for two years.
Elama → elasin.
- Eile rääkisime kaua telefonis.
Yesterday we talked on the phone for a long time.
Rääkima keeps its strong stem: rääkisime.
- Ta ostis uue telefoni.
She bought a new phone.
Ostma has a one-syllable stem, so the ta form is ostis.
- Kas sa õppisid ülikoolis?
Did you study at university?
Õppima → õppisid.
- Nad ootasid meid jaamas.
They waited for us at the station.
Sa and nad share the form ootasid.
Common Mistakes
Building the past on the weak present stem.
Ma räägisin temaga.Ma rääkisin temaga.The -si- past uses the ma-infinitive stem rääki-, not the present stem räägi-.
Adding -i after -s in the he/she form.
Ta elasi Tallinnas.Ta elas Tallinnas.The ta form of the -si- past ends in plain -s.
Leaving out the personal ending.
Ma elas Tallinnas.Ma elasin Tallinnas.Only the ta form has no ending. For ma, add -n: elasin.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The -si- past takes personal endings.
Related Patterns
- Past Tense with -i-
A smaller group of verbs uses -i- instead of -si-.
Level 2 - Irregular Past Forms
A few common verbs change their stem in the past.
Level 2 - Present Stem Changes
The present may use a weak stem while the past uses the strong one.
Level 1 - Key Forms of a Verb
The ma-infinitive shows the stem the past is built on.
Level 2 - Negative Past
The negative past uses ei + -nud instead of these forms.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Past Tense with -si- in Bubblegum
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