Language/Vietnamese/Grammar/Past-Tense-Verbs

◀️ Present Tense Verbs — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Future Tense Verbs ▶️

Vietnamese → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Verbs and Verb Tenses → Past Tense Verbs

Introduction

In this lesson, we will delve into the world of Vietnamese past tense verbs. As a complete beginner, it's important to understand how to express actions that have already happened in the past. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid foundation in using past tense verbs in Vietnamese.

Past Tense Verbs

Vietnamese, like many other languages, has different verb tenses to indicate when an action took place. The past tense is used to describe actions that have already happened before the present moment. In Vietnamese, past tense verbs are formed by adding specific markers to the base form of the verb. Let's explore the different markers and how to use them.

Marker 1: Rồi

One common marker used to indicate the past tense in Vietnamese is "rồi". This marker is often used to describe completed actions or events. Let's look at some examples:

Vietnamese	Pronunciation	English
Tôi đã ăn cơm rồi.	Toy dah uhn comb ro-ee.	I have already eaten rice.
Chúng tôi đã đi du lịch rồi.	Choong toy dah dee doo lich ro-ee.	We have already gone on a trip.

In the above examples, "đã" is also used as the past tense marker, which we will discuss in detail later. However, when "rồi" is used, it emphasizes the completion of the action or event.

Marker 2: Đã

Another common marker for the past tense in Vietnamese is "đã". This marker is used to indicate that an action has already taken place. Let's see some examples:

Vietnamese	Pronunciation	English
Tôi đã đọc sách.	Toy dah duk satch.	I have read the book.
Anh ấy đã mua quà.	Ahn ay dah moo-ah qwah.	He has bought a gift.

In the above examples, "đã" is used to indicate that the action of reading and buying the gift has already happened in the past.

Marker 3: Từng

The marker "từng" is used to express actions that occurred in the past on separate occasions. It is often translated as "used to" in English. Let's see some examples:

Vietnamese	Pronunciation	English
Tôi từng sống ở Hà Nội.	Toy tung sung uh Ha Noi.	I used to live in Hanoi.
Chúng tôi từng đi biển mỗi hè.	Choong toy tung dee byen mow-ee heh.	We used to go to the beach every summer.

In the above examples, "từng" is used to indicate that the actions of living in Hanoi and going to the beach happened on separate occasions in the past.

Marker 4: Vừa...vừa

The marker "vừa...vừa" is used to express actions that were happening simultaneously in the past. It can be translated as "while" in English. Let's look at some examples:

Vietnamese	Pronunciation	English
Tôi vừa ăn cơm vừa xem phim.	Toy vwa uhn comb vwa sem fim.	I was eating rice while watching a movie.
Chúng tôi vừa hát vừa nhảy.	Choong toy vwa hat vwa nyay.	We were singing and dancing at the same time.

In the above examples, "vừa...vừa" is used to indicate that the actions of eating rice and watching a movie, and singing and dancing, were happening simultaneously in the past.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we learned about Vietnamese past tense verbs and the different markers used to indicate actions that have already happened. We explored the markers "rồi", "đã", "từng", and "vừa...vừa" and how they are used in sentences. By practicing these past tense markers, you will be able to express past actions confidently in Vietnamese.

Remember that learning a new language takes time and practice. Take every opportunity to use past tense verbs in your conversations and reinforce your understanding of this grammatical concept. As you progress in your Vietnamese language journey, you will continue to build upon this foundation and expand your knowledge of verb tenses.

Table of Contents - Vietnamese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Hello and Goodbye
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Vietnamese Culture Basics

• Vietnamese Values
• Social Etiquette
• Cuisine and Dining

  ---

Numbers and Counting

• Counting 1-10
• Counting 11-20
• Counting 21 and Beyond

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Nouns and Gender
• Pronouns and Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Holidays and Celebrations

• Tet
• Mid-Autumn Festival

  ---

Verbs and Verb Tenses

• Present Tense Verbs
• Past Tense Verbs
• Future Tense Verbs
• Modal Verbs

  ---

Food and Drink

• Vietnamese Food
• Drinks and Beverages
• Food Ordering

  ---

Arts and Entertainment

• Traditional Music
• Movie and Television

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Adverbs

  ---

Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Giving Directions

  ---

Traditional Clothing

• Ao Dai
• Other Traditional Clothing

Sources

• Vietnamese verbs – YourVietnamese
• Vietnamese Grammar: Past, Present and Future Tenses (with Audio ...
• Vietnamese/Tense - Wikibooks, open books for an open world

Other Lessons

• Adjectives
• Future Tense
• Modal Verbs
• Conditional Mood
• Nouns
• Present Tense Verbs
• Questions
• Tenses
• Personal pronouns

◀️ Present Tense Verbs — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Future Tense Verbs ▶️