Language/South-azerbaijani/Grammar/Past-Tense

South Azerbaijani → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Verbs and Tenses → Past Tense

Learning a new language is an exciting adventure that leads us to discover new cultures and new perspectives. Understanding the past tense is an essential step in mastering a language, and South Azerbaijani is no exception. In this lesson, you will learn how to form the past tense and use it to talk about past events and actions. You will also discover some interesting cultural facts that will help you understand the context in which the language is spoken.

The South Azerbaijani Past Tense

The past tense refers to actions or events that happened in the past.

In South Azerbaijani, the past tense is formed by adding a suffix to the verb stem according to the following rule:

- For regular verbs, add the suffix "-dI" to the verb stem.

For example:

South Azerbaijani	Pronunciation	English
işləmək (to work)	ishləmək	work (infinitive)
işlədi(m)	ishlədi(m)	worked
işlədin	ishlədin	worked (you)
işlədi	ishlədi	worked (he/she/it)
işlədik	ishlədik	worked (we)
işlədiniz	ishlədiniz	worked (you plural)
işlədilər	ishlədilər	worked (they)

As you can see in the table, the suffix "-dI" is added to the verb stem to form the past tense for each person. For regular verbs, there is no change in the verb root.

Note that the suffix is different when the verb stem ends with a vowel. In this case, the suffix "-dI" changes to "-dı".

For example:

South Azerbaijani	Pronunciation	English
oyna(maq) (to play)	oynamak	play (infinitive)
oynadım	oynadım	played
oynadın	oynadın	played (you)
oynadı	oynadı	played (he/she/it)
oynadıq	oynadıq	played (we)
oynadınız	oynadınız	played (you plural)
oynadılar	oynadılar	played (they)

As you can see in the table, the suffix changes to "-dı" when the verb stem ends with a vowel.

It is essential to note that irregular verbs have different rules for forming the past tense. Some verbs change their root while others have irregular suffixes.

For example:

South Azerbaijani	Pronunciation	English
getmək (to go)	getmək	go (infinitive)
gəldim	gəldim	came
gəldin	gəldin	came (you)
gəldi	gəldi	came (he/she/it)
gəldik	gəldik	came (we)
gəldiniz	gəldiniz	came (you plural)
gəldilər	gəldilər	came (they)

In this example, the verb "getmək" (to go) becomes "gəlmək" (to come) in the past tense, with a root change in the stem.

For irregular verbs, it is important to memorize the past tense forms because they are not formed according to regular patterns.

Using the South Azerbaijani Past Tense

The past tense is used to talk about events and actions that happened in the past. Here are some examples:

• Mən dün ofisə getdim. (I went to the office yesterday.)
• Sən bu kitabı oxudu(m). (You read this book.)
• O, bu şəhərdə yaşadı. (He lived in this city.)

As you can see in the examples, the past tense is used to describe actions or events that happened at specific times in the past.

However, the past tense can also be used to describe past habitual actions. In this case, the time frame is not specific, and the action is described as a general habit or routine.

For example:

• Babam hər gün on dəqiqə məktəbə getdi. (My father went to school for ten minutes every day.)

As you can see in the example, the past tense is used to describe a habitual action that was repeated every day.

Cultural Insights

South Azerbaijani is spoken in the region of Azerbaijan known as South Azerbaijan. This region is inhabited by Azerbaijanis, who are a Turkic people.

Azerbaijanis have a rich cultural tradition that has been shaped by their history and geography. Azerbaijanis have a long history of literature, music, and art. One of the most famous poets in the Azerbaijani language is Nizami, who lived in the 12th century.

Azerbaijanis are also known for their hospitality. It is customary for Azerbaijanis to invite guests to their homes and offer them tea or other refreshments. They take pride in their food, which is often made with fresh local ingredients such as herbs, vegetables, and fruits.

In Azerbaijan, there are many traditional festivals and celebrations that are an integral part of the local culture. One of the most famous festivals is Novruz, which marks the beginning of spring and the start of the new year according to the solar calendar. During Novruz, people prepare special dishes, buy new clothes, and visit their relatives and friends.

Azerbaijani music is also an important part of the local culture. The traditional music of Azerbaijan is known for its unique rhythm and melody. The national instrument is the tar, which is a stringed instrument that is played with a plectrum.

Conclusion

In this lesson, you learned how to form and use the past tense in South Azerbaijani. You also explored some interesting cultural facts about the people who speak this language.

Continue practicing the past tense by using it in your own sentences and speaking with native speakers. Keep exploring the rich culture and traditions of the Azerbaijani people, and you will soon discover a fascinating world of language and history.

Table of Contents - South Azerbaijani Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Object-Verb Order
• Negation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Pronouns and Nouns

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns
• Noun Plurals

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing People

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Adverbs of Time, Manner, and Place

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

South Azerbaijani Culture

• History and Geography
• Traditions and Festivals
• Music and Dance

Other Lessons

• Gender
• Future Tense
• 0 to A1 Course
• Pronouns
• Conditional Mood
• Questions
• Possessive Pronouns
• Subject Object Verb Order
• Negation
• How to Use Be