How to Use Past Tense in Polish for English Learners

Understanding Past Tense in Polish

The past tense in Polish is used to describe actions that were completed in the past. Unlike English, Polish past tense forms are affected by gender and number, making it crucial to understand these concepts.

Formation of Past Tense

In Polish, the past tense is formed by taking the infinitive verb, dropping the ending, and adding the appropriate past tense ending. The endings change based on gender and number.

Past Tense Endings for Regular Verbs

• -am, -asz, -a: Standard masculine endings
• -em, -esz, -e: Masculine personal plural endings
• -łam, -łaś, -ła: Feminine endings
• -liśmy, -liście, -li: Personal plural (m/m)
• -łyśmy, -łyście, -ły: Non-personal plural (f)

Examples by Gender and Number

Aspect in Polish Past Tense

Polish verbs have two aspects: imperfective and perfective. Imperfective verbs describe actions without reference to their completion (e.g., "I was writing") while perfective verbs indicate completed actions (e.g., "I wrote").

Perfective vs. Imperfective

• Perfective: odpowiem (I will answer)
• Imperfective: odpowiadałem (I was answering)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learners often misuse gender and number agreements in Polish past tense. Always ensure the verb endings correspond correctly to the subject's gender and pluralization.