The Past Tense
The past tense is the l-form plus a present form of byť in the first and second persons: robil som (I did), robila si (you did). The third person uses the l-form alone: robil (he did).
How It Works
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | robil / robila som | robili sme |
| 2nd | robil / robila si | robili ste |
| 3rd | robil / robila / robilo | robili |
The l-form. For most verbs, replace -ť with -l: robiť → robil, písať → písal, kúpiť → kúpil. Its ending changes with the subject’s gender and number; see past forms by gender and number. Some common verbs are irregular; see irregular past forms.
The helper words. Som, si, sme and ste are the present forms of byť. They are unstressed and stand in the second position: Včera som bol doma. Kde si bola? Ja som to nevedel. The third person has no helper word: Peter prišiel.
Negation. Ne- joins the l-form, and the helper word stays positive: Nebol som tam. Nerobili sme nič.
Polite vy. When you address one person politely, use ste with the plural -li form: Pani Nováková, boli ste doma? See polite vy in the past.
One past tense covers English did, was doing and has done. The aspect of the verb shows whether an action was finished.
Examples (6)
- Včera som pracoval doma.
Yesterday I worked at home.
Word by Word: Yesterday I-am worked at-home.
A male speaker. Som stands in the second position.
- Bola si včera doma?
Were you at home yesterday?
Word by Word: Was you-are yesterday at-home?
Asked of a woman: bola is feminine, si marks you.
- Včera pršalo.
It rained yesterday.
Word by Word: Yesterday rained.
Third person: no helper word. Weather verbs use the neuter -lo.
- Nebol som tam.
I wasn't there.
Word by Word: Not-was I-am there.
Ne- joins the l-form, not som.
- Večer sme pozerali film.
In the evening we watched a film.
Word by Word: Evening we-are watched film.
- Kde ste boli?
Where were you?
Word by Word: Where you-are were?
Ste can address several people or one person politely.
Common Mistakes
Putting som after the l-form when another word comes first.
Včera bol som doma.Včera som bol doma.Som is unstressed and must be the second item in the sentence. When včera comes first, som follows it.
Adding je in the third person.
Peter je prišiel.Peter prišiel.The third person past uses only the l-form. Je is never added.
Negating the helper word instead of the l-form.
Nie som bol tam.Nebol som tam.In the past, ne- joins the l-form: nebol som.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before The Past Tense, learn Present Tense of byť. The past tense uses byť as a helper: robil som.
Related Patterns
- Past Forms by Gender and Number
Shows how the l-form changes for gender and number.
Level 2 - Irregular Past Forms
Lists common verbs with irregular l-forms.
Level 2 - Unstressed Words in Second Position
Explains why som must be in the second position.
Level 3 - ne-Negating Verbs with Ne-
Ne- joins the verb in the past just as in the present.
Level 1 - Polite vy in the Past
Covers polite vy with boli ste.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice The Past Tense in Bubblegum
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