Using Imperfect for Habitual Actions in the Past
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the Armenian Imperfect to describe repeated actions or states that happened regularly in the past.
- Add 'ei', 'eir', 'er', 'einq', 'eiq', 'ein' to the verb stem for -el verbs: 'kardum ei' (I was reading).
- Use it for habits: 'Amen or vazum ei' (Every day I used to run).
- Use it for background descriptions: 'Arevy shogum er' (The sun was shining).
Imperfect Conjugation of 'Kardal' (to read)
| Pronoun | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
|
Es
|
kardum ei
|
chei kardum
|
|
Du
|
kardum eir
|
cheir kardum
|
|
Na
|
kardum er
|
cher kardum
|
|
Menq
|
kardum einq
|
cheinq kardum
|
|
Duq
|
kardum eiq
|
cheiq kardum
|
|
Nranq
|
kardum ein
|
chein kardum
|
Meanings
The Imperfect tense describes actions that were ongoing, repeated, or habitual in the past. It sets the scene or explains what someone used to do regularly.
Habitual Past
Actions that happened repeatedly in the past.
“Ես ամեն առավոտ սուրճ էի խմում։”
“Մենք հաճախ էինք զբոսնում։”
Ongoing Background
Actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past.
“Երբ եկար, ես գիրք էի կարդում։”
“Անձրև էր գալիս։”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb-um + ei/eir/er...
|
Grum ei (I was writing)
|
|
Negative
|
Che + Verb-um + ei/eir...
|
Chei grum (I was not writing)
|
|
Interrogative
|
Verb-um + ei/eir...?
|
Grum eir? (Were you writing?)
|
|
Neg. Interrogative
|
Che + Verb-um + ei/eir...?
|
Cheir grum? (Weren't you writing?)
|
Formalitätsspektrum
Es ashxatum ei. (General)
Ashxatum ei. (General)
Ashxatum ei. (General)
Ashxatum ei. (General)
Imperfect Usage Map
Habits
- misht always
- amen or every day
Background
- andzrev rain
- shogum shining
Beispiele nach Niveau
Es kardum ei.
I was reading.
Menq xaghum einq.
We were playing.
Na gnum er.
He was going.
Duq utum eiq.
You were eating.
Amen or parkum ei.
I used to walk every day.
Eghanaky lav er.
The weather was good.
Chei uzum gnal.
I didn't want to go.
Inch eir anum?
What were you doing?
Erkar zhamanak aprum einq Erevanum.
We were living in Yerevan for a long time.
Na misht erazum er.
He was always dreaming.
Erkar xosum einq, erb na mtav.
We were talking for a long time when he entered.
Ayd zhamanak ashxatum ei.
At that time, I was working.
Karces te amen inch korchum er.
It seemed as if everything was disappearing.
Nranq chein haskanum, te inch er katarvum.
They didn't understand what was happening.
Ayn zhamanak es patrastvum ei meknel.
At that time, I was preparing to leave.
Amen inch aynpes er, inchpes naxkinum.
Everything was as it was before.
Na miayn zhptum er, karces giter gaghtniqy.
He was only smiling, as if he knew the secret.
Ayn orerin, erb menq der eritasard einq...
In those days, when we were still young...
Nra xosqery karces odum kaxvum ein.
His words seemed to hang in the air.
Voch voq cher spasum, vor aydpes kliner.
No one was expecting that it would be like that.
Ayn zhamanakashrjanum, erb mshakuyty tsaghkum er...
In that era, when culture was flourishing...
Na cher gitakcum, vor ir kyanqy phoxvum er.
He was not realizing that his life was changing.
Amen inch, inch katarvum er, uner ir pattchary.
Everything that was happening had its reason.
Nra achqerum mi nor ashxarh er artnanum.
A new world was awakening in his eyes.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners often use Aorist for habits.
Mixing up the auxiliary verbs.
Mixing up the timeline.
Häufige Fehler
Greci ei
Grum ei
Kardum
Kardum ei
Kardum er
Kardum ei
Che kardum
Chei kardum
Gnum er
Gnum ein
Utum eir
Utum ei
Eir gnum
Gnum eir
Greci
Grum ei
Kardum einq
Kardum ei
Chei gnum er
Chei gnum
Grum ei linum
Grum ei
Kardum erin
Kardum ein
Chei er kardum
Chei kardum
Satzmuster
Es ___ ei.
Amen or ___ ei ___.
Erb du ekar, es ___ ei.
Nranq ___ ein, bayc es ___ ei.
Real World Usage
Inch eir anum?
Es tim ei ghekavarum.
Eghanaky hrashali er.
Menq lav einq zhamanak anckacnum!
Es spasum ei im patverin.
Amen gisher na patmum er heqiatner.
Focus on the 'um'
Don't over-use
Pair with adverbs
Storytelling
Smart Tips
Add a frequency adverb like 'misht' (always) to make it clear.
Use the Imperfect to describe the environment.
Use the Imperfect for all your memories.
Use Imperfect for the background action.
Aussprache
Auxiliary stress
The stress in the Imperfect usually falls on the auxiliary verb.
Question rising
Gnum eir↗?
Yes/No question
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Remember 'EI' (E-I) as 'Every Instance' of a past habit.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a video camera recording a scene in the past. The 'um' is the film rolling, and the 'ei' is the camera operator.
Rhyme
Past habits are fun, just add 'um' and then 'ei' for everyone!
Story
Yesterday, I was walking (vazum ei) in the park. The birds were singing (ergum ein). I was feeling (zgum ei) happy. It was a perfect day.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write 5 sentences about what you used to do when you were 10 years old.
Kulturelle Hinweise
The Imperfect is heavily used in storytelling, especially when recounting family history or childhood memories.
The Armenian Imperfect is derived from the combination of the present participle and the past tense of the verb 'linel' (to be).
Gesprächseinstiege
Inch eir anum erek?
Poqr zhamanak inch xagher eir xaghum?
Erb aprum eir Erevanum, vortegh eir hatchaxum?
Inchpes er kyanqy, erb der ashakert eir?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
Es ___ ei.
Menq ___ einq.
Find and fix the mistake:
Na kardum ei.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I was eating.
Answer starts with: Es ...
A: Inch eir anum? B: Es ___.
Use 'misht' and 'gnal'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesEs ___ ei.
Menq ___ einq.
Find and fix the mistake:
Na kardum ei.
ei / es / kardum
I was eating.
A: Inch eir anum? B: Es ___.
Use 'misht' and 'gnal'.
Menq -> ?
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, it is strictly for the past.
The rule is the same for all verb types.
Yes, it is very common in literature.
It marks the imperfective aspect.
No, use the Aorist instead.
Some dialects have variations, but this is the standard.
Add 'che' before the verb.
Distinguishing it from the Aorist.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Imperfecto
Spanish conjugates the verb itself, while Armenian uses an auxiliary.
Imparfait
French uses a synthetic conjugation, Armenian uses an analytic one.
Präteritum
German lacks a dedicated continuous past form.
Te-ita form
Japanese particles and verb endings work very differently.
Kana + Imperfect
Arabic conjugates the auxiliary for gender.
Zai + Verb + Le
Chinese has no verb conjugation for person or tense.
