бев / беше

Past Forms of Be

Level 2Sounds Like sum vo minato: bev; beše

The verb сум (be) has the past forms бев, беше, беше, бевме, бевте, беа: Вчера бев дома (Yesterday I was at home).

How It Works

Forms.
јас бев – I was
ти беше – you were
тој, таа, тоа беше – he, she, it was
ние бевме – we were
вие бевте – you were (several people, or polite)
тие беа – they were

Use. Бев is the everyday past of сум. Like the present сум, си, е, it links the subject to a place or a description: Бев уморен, Филмот беше интересен, Беа во Скопје. The adjective agrees with the subject as usual: Таа беше уморна.

Weather and time. With no subject, беше describes conditions: Беше студено (It was cold), Беше доцна (It was late).

One form for two people. Беше means both "you were" and "he or she was". Context or a pronoun shows who is meant: Каде беше ти?

Negative and questions. Не goes first: Не бев таму. Ask with a question word or дали: Каде беше?, Дали беше дома?

Examples (6)

  1. Вчера бев дома.

    Yesterday I was at home.

  2. Каде беше цел ден?

    Where were you all day?

    Беше is the you (singular) form here.

  3. Беше многу студено.

    It was very cold.

    With no subject, беше describes the weather.

  4. Минатото лето бевме во Охрид.

    Last summer we were in Ohrid.

  5. Децата беа уморни.

    The children were tired.

    A plural subject takes беа.

  6. Филмот беше интересен.

    The film was interesting.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the present of сум for the past.

    Вчера сум дома.
    Вчера бев дома.

    Сум is present. A past time needs бев.

  • Using беше with a plural subject.

    Тие беше во Скопје.
    Тие беа во Скопје.

    Беше is only for ти and for тој, таа, тоа. The they-form is беа.

How It Connects

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бев / бешеLevel 2Past Forms of Be

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Past forms of be follow the imperfect.

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