The Armenian language, with its rich history and unique characteristics, offers a fascinating journey for language learners. One of the most intriguing aspects of Armenian is its verb system, which includes a variety of tenses that convey different times, aspects, and nuances of actions. In this article, we will provide an in-depth overview of Armenian verb tenses, making this complex topic accessible to English speakers.
Introduction to Armenian Verb Tenses
Armenian verbs are conjugated to express different tenses, moods, and aspects, just like in English. However, the forms and rules governing these conjugations are distinct. Armenian has both synthetic (single-word) and analytical (multi-word) verb forms. The verb system in Armenian is divided into three broad categories based on time: past, present, and future. Each of these categories can be further divided into specific tenses that indicate the nature of the action.
Present Tense
The present tense in Armenian is used to describe actions that are currently happening or habitual actions. It corresponds to the English simple present and present continuous tenses.
Formation: The present tense is formed by taking the verb stem and adding specific endings that correspond to the subject. For example, the verb “to be” in Armenian is “լինել” (linel). Here is its conjugation in the present tense:
– I am: ես եմ (yes em)
– You are (singular): դու ես (du es)
– He/She/It is: նա է (na e)
– We are: մենք ենք (menk enk)
– You are (plural/formal): դուք եք (dook ek)
– They are: նրանք են (nrank en)
Examples:
– Ես գնում եմ դպրոց (Yes gnum em dprots) – I am going to school.
– Նա կարդում է գիրքը (Na kardum e girqe) – He/She is reading the book.
Past Tense
The past tense in Armenian is used to describe actions that have already happened. Armenian has several past tenses, each with its nuances.
Simple Past: This tense corresponds to the English simple past tense and is used to describe a completed action.
Formation: The simple past tense is formed by taking the verb stem and adding specific past tense endings. For the verb “to write” (գրել – grel):
– I wrote: ես գրեցի (yes gretsi)
– You wrote (singular): դու գրեցիր (du gretsir)
– He/She/It wrote: նա գրեց (na grets)
– We wrote: մենք գրեցինք (menk gretsink)
– You wrote (plural/formal): դուք գրեցիք (dook gretsik)
– They wrote: նրանք գրեցին (nrank gretsin)
Examples:
– Ես կերա խնձոր (Yes kera khndzor) – I ate an apple.
– Նա գնաց տուն (Na gnats tun) – He/She went home.
Imperfect Past: This tense is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past, similar to the English past continuous or “used to” forms.
Formation: The imperfect past is formed by taking the verb stem and adding the imperfect endings. For the verb “to read” (կարդալ – kardal):
– I was reading: ես կարդում էի (yes kardum ei)
– You were reading (singular): դու կարդում էիր (du kardum eir)
– He/She/It was reading: նա կարդում էր (na kardum er)
– We were reading: մենք կարդում էինք (menk kardum eink)
– You were reading (plural/formal): դուք կարդում էիք (dook kardum eik)
– They were reading: նրանք կարդում էին (nrank kardum ein)
Examples:
– Մենք խաղում էինք այգում (Menk khaghum eink aygum) – We were playing in the park.
– Նա սովորում էր ֆրանսերեն (Na sovorum er franseren) – He/She was learning French.
Future Tense
The future tense in Armenian is used to describe actions that will happen. There are both simple and compound future tenses in Armenian.
Simple Future: This tense is used to describe a single action that will take place in the future.
Formation: The simple future tense is formed by adding the future marker “կ” (k) to the verb stem, followed by the present tense endings. For the verb “to go” (գնալ – gnal):
– I will go: ես կգնամ (yes kgnam)
– You will go (singular): դու կգնաս (du kgnas)
– He/She/It will go: նա կգնա (na kgna)
– We will go: մենք կգնանք (menk kgnank)
– You will go (plural/formal): դուք կգնաք (dook kgnak)
– They will go: նրանք կգնան (nrank kgnan)
Examples:
– Ես կգնամ խանութ (Yes kgnam khanut) – I will go to the store.
– Նրանք կտեսնեն ֆիլմը (Nrank ktesnen filme) – They will see the movie.
Compound Future: This tense is used to express actions that will continue or be ongoing in the future, similar to the English future continuous tense.
Formation: The compound future is formed by using the future marker “կ” (k) followed by the verb “լինել” (linel) in the present tense, and then the main verb in its infinitive form. For the verb “to read” (կարդալ – kardal):
– I will be reading: ես կկարդամ լինել (yes kkardam linel)
– You will be reading (singular): դու կկարդաս լինել (du kkardas linel)
– He/She/It will be reading: նա կկարդա լինել (na kkarda linel)
– We will be reading: մենք կկարդանք լինել (menk kkardank linel)
– You will be reading (plural/formal): դուք կկարդաք լինել (dook kkardak linel)
– They will be reading: նրանք կկարդան լինել (nrank kkardan linel)
Examples:
– Ես կկարդամ գիրքը (Yes kkardam girqe) – I will be reading the book.
– Նա կսովորի երգը (Na ksovori yerqe) – He/She will be learning the song.
Perfect Tenses
Perfect tenses in Armenian, like in English, are used to describe actions that have been completed at some point relative to another time.
Present Perfect: This tense is used to describe actions that have been completed in the past but are relevant to the present.
Formation: The present perfect is formed by using the present tense of the auxiliary verb “լինել” (linel) and the past participle of the main verb. For the verb “to write” (գրել – grel):
– I have written: ես գրած եմ (yes graz em)
– You have written (singular): դու գրած ես (du graz es)
– He/She/It has written: նա գրած է (na graz e)
– We have written: մենք գրած ենք (menk graz enk)
– You have written (plural/formal): դուք գրած եք (dook graz ek)
– They have written: նրանք գրած են (nrank graz en)
Examples:
– Ես տեսած եմ այդ ֆիլմը (Yes tesats em ayd filme) – I have seen that movie.
– Նա ավարտած է իր աշխատանքը (Na avartats e ir ashkhatanke) – He/She has finished his/her work.
Past Perfect: This tense is used to describe actions that were completed before another action in the past.
Formation: The past perfect is formed by using the past tense of the auxiliary verb “լինել” (linel) and the past participle of the main verb. For the verb “to read” (կարդալ – kardal):
– I had read: ես կարդացած էի (yes kardatsats ei)
– You had read (singular): դու կարդացած էիր (du kardatsats eir)
– He/She/It had read: նա կարդացած էր (na kardatsats er)
– We had read: մենք կարդացած էինք (menk kardatsats eink)
– You had read (plural/formal): դուք կարդացած էիք (dook kardatsats eik)
– They had read: նրանք կարդացած էին (nrank kardatsats ein)
Examples:
– Ես արդեն կարդացած էի գիրքը երբ նա եկավ (Yes arden kardatsats ei girqe yerb na ekav) – I had already read the book when he/she came.
– Նրանք ավարտած էին իրենց տնային աշխատանքը մինչեւ երեկո (Nrank avartats ein irents tnaayin ashkhatanke minchev yerek) – They had finished their homework by evening.
Future Perfect: This tense is used to describe actions that will have been completed by a certain point in the future.
Formation: The future perfect is formed by using the future tense of the auxiliary verb “լինել” (linel) and the past participle of the main verb. For the verb “to go” (գնալ – gnal):
– I will have gone: ես գնացած կլինեմ (yes gnatsats klinem)
– You will have gone (singular): դու գնացած կլինես (du gnatsats klines)
– He/She/It will have gone: նա գնացած կլինի (na gnatsats klini)
– We will have gone: մենք գնացած կլինենք (menk gnatsats klinek)
– You will have gone (plural/formal): դուք գնացած կլինեք (dook gnatsats klinek)
– They will have gone: նրանք գնացած կլինեն (nrank gnatsats klinen)
Examples:
– Նա ավարտած կլինի իր գիրքը մինչեւ շաբաթ օրը (Na avartats klini ir girqe minchev shabat or) – He/She will have finished his/her book by Saturday.
– Մենք արդեն գնացած կլինենք մինչեւ երեկո (Menk arden gnatsats klinek minchev yerek) – We will have already gone by evening.
Conclusion
Understanding Armenian verb tenses can be challenging but is essential for mastering the language. By learning the various tenses and their formations, you can accurately convey the timing and nature of actions in Armenian. Practice regularly, and soon you will find yourself more comfortable with these verb forms. As with any language, persistence and consistent practice are key. Happy learning!
