Forming the L-Participle
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The L-participle is the core of the past tense; simply replace the infinitive '-ti' or '-či' ending with '-l'.
- Remove the infinitive ending '-ti' or '-či' from the verb. Example: 'delati' -> 'dela-'.
- Add the suffix '-l' for masculine singular. Example: 'delal'.
- Adjust for gender and number by adding '-la' (fem) or '-lo' (neut). Example: 'delala', 'delalo'.
L-Participle Endings
| Gender | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
|
Masculine
|
-l
|
-li
|
|
Feminine
|
-la
|
-le
|
|
Neuter
|
-lo
|
-la
|
Meanings
The L-participle is a non-finite verb form used to construct the past tense in Slovenian when combined with the auxiliary verb 'biti' (to be).
Past Tense Formation
Used with the auxiliary verb 'biti' to describe completed actions in the past.
“On je bral knjigo.”
“Ona je pisala pismo.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Aux + Participle
|
Sem delal
|
|
Negative
|
Nisem + Participle
|
Nisem delal
|
|
Question
|
Ali + Aux + Participle
|
Ali si delal?
|
|
Masc. Plural
|
Aux + Participle
|
So delali
|
|
Fem. Plural
|
Aux + Participle
|
So delale
|
|
Neuter Plural
|
Aux + Participle
|
So delala
|
Formalitätsspektrum
Ves dan sem delal. (Work)
Cel dan sem delal. (Work)
Sem delal cel dan. (Work)
Sem šljakal cel dan. (Work)
L-Participle Gender Map
Masculine
- delal worked (m)
Feminine
- delala worked (f)
Neuter
- delalo worked (n)
Beispiele nach Niveau
Jaz sem delal.
I worked.
Ona je spala.
She slept.
Mi smo jedli.
We ate.
On je pil.
He drank.
Ali si včeraj delala?
Did you work yesterday?
Nismo videli filma.
We didn't see the movie.
Otroci so se igrali.
The children played.
Kaj si kupila?
What did you buy?
Bila je zelo utrujena, ker je cel dan delala.
She was very tired because she worked all day.
Rekli so, da bodo prišli.
They said they would come.
Nisem vedel, da si že prišel.
I didn't know you had already arrived.
Vse smo prebrali.
We read everything.
Če bi vedel, bi prišel prej.
If I had known, I would have come earlier.
Vsi so se strinjali z mojo odločitvijo.
Everyone agreed with my decision.
Niti pomislila ni na to možnost.
She didn't even think about that possibility.
Bili so postavljeni pred težko nalogo.
They were faced with a difficult task.
Kljub temu, da so trdo delali, niso dosegli cilja.
Despite working hard, they did not reach the goal.
Bilo je rečeno, da bo deževalo.
It was said that it would rain.
Nihče ni mogel predvideti takšnega razpleta.
No one could have predicted such an outcome.
Vse so bile pripravljene na odhod.
They were all ready to leave.
Bilo bi nezaslišano, če bi to storili brez dovoljenja.
It would be outrageous if they had done that without permission.
Niso se zavedali, kakšne posledice bo imelo njihovo dejanje.
They were not aware of the consequences their action would have.
Vse te besede so bile že zdavnaj izrečene.
All these words had been spoken long ago.
Niti enkrat niso podvomili v svojo pot.
Not once did they doubt their path.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners mix up the stems.
Häufige Fehler
Jaz sem delati.
Jaz sem delal.
Jaz delal.
Jaz sem delal.
Jaz sem delala (if male).
Jaz sem delal.
Oni je delal.
Oni so delali.
Mi smo delal.
Mi smo delali.
Ona so delala.
Ona je delala.
Ali si delal?
Ali si delal?
Oni so delala (mixed group).
Oni so delali.
Bila sem delal.
Delala sem.
Jaz sem bil delal.
Delal sem.
Bilo so narejeno.
Bilo je narejeno.
Oni so bili šli.
Oni so šli.
Vse so bile rečene.
Vse je bilo rečeno.
Satzmuster
Jaz sem ___.
Real World Usage
Sem že prišel.
Check your gender
Smart Tips
Match the gender.
Aussprache
L-sound
The 'l' at the end of the participle is often pronounced as a 'w' in some dialects.
Statement
Sem delal. ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of the 'L' as a 'Last' marker for the past.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a giant 'L' shaped hook pulling events from the past into the present.
Rhyme
Drop the -ti, add the -l, now you're speaking past tense well!
Story
Yesterday, I was a 'delal' (worker). I 'delal' all day. My sister 'delala' too. We 'delali' together.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write 5 sentences about what you did yesterday using the L-participle.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Slovenians are very precise about gender agreement. Using the wrong gender is immediately noticeable.
Derived from the Proto-Slavic perfect participle.
Gesprächseinstiege
Kaj si delal včeraj?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
Jaz sem ___ (delati).
Score: /1
Ubungsaufgaben
1 exercisesJaz sem ___ (delati).
Score: /1
FAQ (1)
Yes, in standard Slovenian.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Pretérito perfecto
Slovenian participle changes for gender.
Passé composé
Slovenian participle is more gender-sensitive.
Perfekt
German participle is invariant.
Ta-form
Japanese has no gender.
Past tense
Slovenian uses a participle.
Le particle
Slovenian uses conjugation.
