Lesson 29 – Past Tense

Welcome back! In this lesson, we’re diving into the past tense in Polish. The past tense is used to talk about actions that have already happened. While it may seem tricky at first because verbs change based on gender and number, with practice, you’ll get the hang of it. By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to confidently form and use the past tense in Polish. Let’s get started!

Why Learn the Past Tense?

The past tense is essential for:

• Talking about past events and experiences.
• Sharing stories and memories.
• Building more complex and natural sentences.

How to Form the Past Tense

The past tense in Polish is formed by taking the third-person singular form of the verb (usually from the perfective aspect) and adding specific endings based on gender and number. Here’s how it works:

Using the Past Tense in Sentences

Let’s see how the past tense works in real-life sentences:

1. Masculine Subject:
   • Ja jadłem obiad. – I ate lunch. (masculine speaker)
   • On czytał książkę. – He read a book.
2. Feminine Subject:
   • Ja jadłam obiad. – I ate lunch. (feminine speaker)
   • Ona czytała książkę. – She read a book.
3. Neuter Subject:
   • Dziecko spało. – The child slept.
4. Plural Subjects:
   • Oni grali w piłkę nożną. – They played football. (mixed group or only men)
   • One grały w siatkówkę. – They played volleyball. (only women)

Grammar Notes

1. Verb Endings:
   • The endings change based on the gender and number of the subject.
   • For example:
     • Masculine: -łem, -łeś, -ł, -liśmy, -liście, -li.
     • Feminine: -łam, -łaś, -ła, -łyśmy, -łyście, -ły.
     • Neuter: -ło.
2. Perfective vs. Imperfective Verbs:
   • The past tense is often formed using perfective verbs, which indicate completed actions.
   • For example: zjeść (to eat – perfective) vs. jeść (to eat – imperfective).

Practice Tasks

1. Fill in the Blanks:
   Complete the sentences with the correct past tense form:
   • Ja ___ (eat – masculine) obiad.
   • Ona ___ (read) książkę.
   • Oni ___ (play) w piłkę nożną.
   • My ___ (go – feminine) do kina.
2. Translate These Sentences:
   • I ate breakfast. (feminine speaker)
   • He watched TV.
   • They (mixed group) went to the park.
   • She drank coffee.
3. Create Your Own Sentences:
   Write 5 sentences in the past tense. For example:
   • Ja czytałam książkę. – I read a book. (feminine speaker)
   • Oni grali w piłkę. – They played football.

Cultural Tip: Talking About the Past in Poland

In Poland, people often share stories about their childhood, family traditions, and historical events. For example:

• Kiedy byłem dzieckiem, często jeździłem na wieś. – When I was a child, I often went to the countryside.
• Moja babcia opowiadała mi o wojnie. – My grandmother told me about the war.

These phrases are great for practicing the past tense and connecting with Polish culture.

Homework

1. Write 10 sentences in the past tense. Include examples of masculine, feminine, neuter, and plural subjects.
2. Practice saying these sentences out loud. Focus on pronunciation and fluency.
3. Bonus: Look up 5 new verbs and practice conjugating them in the past tense.

That’s it for Lesson 29! You’ve now mastered the past tense in Polish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be sharing stories and memories like a pro. Do zobaczenia! 😊