Chapter 5: Expressing Past Time / Boqonnaa 5: Yeroo Darbe Ibsuu
This chapter covers the simple past tense. / Boqonnaan kun yeroo darbe salphaa irratti xiyyeeffata.
The Simple Past Tense / Yeroo Darbe Salphaa
The simple past tense describes activities or situations that began and ended in the past. / Yeroon darbe salphaan gocha ykn haala darbe keessatti eegalamee xumurame ibsa.
(a) I walked to school yesterday. / Kaleessa ani gara mana barumsaatti miilaan deeme.
(b) Ann watched TV last night. / Aanaan eda TV ilaalaa turte.
(c) We cooked dinner. / Nuti irbaata bilcheessine.
Most simple past verbs end in -ed (regular verbs). / Gochimoonni yeroo darbee salphaa baay'een isaanii -ed irratti xumuramu (gochimoota idilee).
Irregular Verbs / Gochimoota Idilee Hin Taane
Many common verbs have irregular past forms. You must memorize them. / Gochimoonni baramoon baay'een isaanii boca darbee kan idilee hin taane qabu. Isaan kana sammuutti qabachuu qabda.
(d) I ate breakfast this morning. (present: eat, past: ate) / Ganama kana ciree nyaadhe.
(e) They came to our house. (present: come, past: came) / Isaan gara mana keenyaa dhufan.
| Present | Past |
|---|---|
| come | came |
| do | did |
| eat | ate |
| get | got |
| go | went |
| have | had |
| put | put |
| see | saw |
| sit | sat |
| sleep | slept |
| speak | spoke |
| stand | stood |
| write | wrote |
The Simple Past: Negative / Yeroo Darbe Salphaa: Didaa
Use did not (didn't) with the simple form of the verb to make a negative past sentence. The main verb does NOT have a past form. / Hima didaa darbee ijaaruuf, did not (didn't) gochima bu'uuraa waliin fayyadami. Gochimni ijoon boca darbee hin qabaatu.
(f) I did not walk to school. I took the bus.
Ani gara mana barumsaatti miilaan hin deemne. Baasiin deeme.
(g) She didn't eat lunch.
Isheen laaqana hin nyaanne.
The Simple Past: Yes/No Questions / Yeroo Darbe Salphaa: Gaaffii Eeyyee/Lakkii
To ask a yes/no question in the past, start with Did, followed by the subject and the simple form of the verb. / Gaaffii eeyyee/lakkii yeroo darbeetti gaafachuuf, Did dura buusi, itti aansuun matimaafi gochima bu'uuraa fayyadami.
(h) Did you walk to school? → Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
Gara mana barumsaatti miilaan deemtee? → Eeyyee, deeme. / Lakki, hin deemne.
(i) Did Bob eat dinner? → Yes, he did. / No, he didn't.
Boob irbaata nyaate? → Eeyyee, nyaate. / Lakki, hin nyaanne.