Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The Aorist is your go-to tense for completed actions in the past; just add the specific past-tense endings to the verb stem.
- Use it for actions that happened once and finished: 'I ate' (Kera).
- It does not describe ongoing habits; use the Imperfect for that.
- The endings change based on whether the verb ends in -el or -al.
Aorist Conjugation (-el verbs)
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
|
kardatsi
|
kardatsink
|
|
2nd
|
kardatsir
|
kardatsik
|
|
3rd
|
kardats
|
kardatsin
|
Meanings
The Aorist (Ankataryal) expresses a completed action in the past. It is the most common way to narrate events that occurred at a specific time.
Completed Action
A single, finished event in the past.
“Ես կարդացի գիրքը (I read the book)”
“Նա գրեց նամակ (He wrote a letter)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Stem + Ending
|
Gnatsi (I went)
|
|
Negative
|
Ch + Stem + Ending
|
Chgnatsi (I didn't go)
|
|
Question
|
Verb + Question Marker
|
Gnatsi՞r (Did you go?)
|
|
1st Person
|
Stem + -tsi/-atsi
|
Gnatsi
|
|
2nd Person
|
Stem + -tsir/-atsir
|
Gnatsir
|
|
3rd Person
|
Stem + -ts/-ats
|
Gnats
|
正式程度
Ես գնացի խանութ (Yes gnatsi khanut) (Daily errand)
Ես գնացի խանութ (Yes gnatsi khanut) (Daily errand)
Գնացի խանութ (Gnatsi khanut) (Daily errand)
Գնացի խանութ (Gnatsi khanut) (Daily errand)
Aorist Usage
Actions
- Gnatsi I went
Completion
- Avartetsi I finished
按水平分级的例句
Ես գնացի (Yes gnatsi)
I went
Նա կերավ (Na kerav)
He ate
Մենք եկանք (Menk yekank)
We came
Դուք տեսաք (Duk tesak)
You saw
Ես չգնացի տուն (Yes chgnatsi tun)
I did not go home
Դու կարդացի՞ր գիրքը (Du kardatsir girqe?)
Did you read the book?
Նրանք գրեցին նամակը (Nrank gretsin namake)
They wrote the letter
Ես գնեցի հաց (Yes gnetsi hats)
I bought bread
Երբ նա եկավ, ես արդեն ավարտեցի աշխատանքը (Yerb na yekav, yes arden avartetsi ashkhatanke)
When he came, I had already finished the work
Մենք որոշեցինք գնալ Երևան (Menk voroshetsink gnal Yerevan)
We decided to go to Yerevan
Նա պատմեց ինձ ամեն ինչ (Na patmets indz amen inch)
He told me everything
Մենք հանդիպեցինք կայարանում (Menk handipetsink kayaranum)
We met at the station
Նա հանկարծակի հասկացավ իր սխալը (Na hankartsaki haskatsav ir skhale)
He suddenly realized his mistake
Նախագահը հայտարարեց նոր օրենքի մասին (Nakhagahe haytararets nor orenki masin)
The president announced the new law
Մենք հաջողությամբ հաղթահարեցինք դժվարությունները (Menk hajoghutyamb haghtaharetsink dzhvarutyunnere)
We successfully overcame the difficulties
Նա հրաժարվեց առաջարկից (Na hrazharvets arajarkits)
He refused the offer
Այդ օրը նա վերջնականապես խզեց կապերը (Ayd ore na verjnakanape khzets kapere)
That day he finally severed the ties
Նա անտեսեց բոլոր նախազգուշացումները (Na antesets bolor nakhazgushatsumnere)
He ignored all warnings
Մենք վերագնահատեցինք մեր ռազմավարությունը (Menk veragnahatetsink mer razmavarutyune)
We re-evaluated our strategy
Նա հմտորեն օգտվեց առիթից (Na hmtoren ogtvets arritits)
He skillfully took advantage of the opportunity
Նա ըմբռնեց իրավիճակի ողջ լրջությունը (Na embrnets iravichaki voghj lrjutyune)
He grasped the full gravity of the situation
Այդ դեպքը հիմք դրեց հետագա փոփոխություններին (Ayd depqe himk drets hetaga popokhutyunnerin)
That event laid the foundation for future changes
Նա հանդիսավորությամբ բացեց արարողությունը (Na handisavorutyamb batsets araroghutyune)
He solemnly opened the ceremony
Նա անվերապահորեն ընդունեց պարտությունը (Na anverapahoren endunets partutyune)
He unconditionally accepted defeat
容易混淆
Learners use Aorist for habits.
Learners use Aorist for recent events with present relevance.
Mixing stems.
常见错误
Yes gnal-i
Yes gnatsi
Yes kera-ts
Yes kera
Ch-gnatsi
Chgnatsi
Yes gnatsir
Yes gnatsi
Yes kardum-etsi
Yes kardatsi
Gnatsir du?
Du gnatsir?
Ch-kardatsi
Chkardatsi
Yes kardum ei (for single action)
Yes kardatsi
Na gnats
Na gnats (correct, but check context)
Yes tesa-ts
Yes tesa
Archaic form in casual speech
Modern form
Over-using Aorist in descriptive passages
Use Imperfect
Incorrect aspectual choice
Perfect
句型
Ես ___ (verb) ___ (object).
Դուք ___ (verb) ___ (place)?
Մենք ___ (verb) ___ (time).
Նա ___ (verb) ___ (reason).
Real World Usage
Գնացի տուն (I went home)
Պատվիրեցի պիցցա (I ordered pizza)
Ավարտեցի համալսարանը (I finished university)
Տեսա Գառնին (I saw Garni)
Հասա Երևան (I arrived in Yerevan)
Նախագահը ստորագրեց հրամանագիրը (The president signed the decree)
Check the ending
Don't confuse with Imperfect
Listen for the stress
Use it for storytelling
Smart Tips
Use the Aorist for the main events and the Imperfect for the background details.
Check the infinitive in a dictionary; the ending is always there.
Avoid slang and use full sentences with pronouns.
Repeat the verb in the same tense.
发音
Stress
Stress usually falls on the last syllable of the verb.
Question
Gnatsi՞r (rising pitch at the end)
Indicates a yes/no question.
记住它
记忆技巧
Remember 'Aorist' as 'A-OR-IST' (A-OR-I-ST) — it's the 'A'ction that is 'OR'dered and 'I'n 'ST'op.
视觉联想
Imagine a camera flash going off. That flash is the Aorist—a single, bright, completed moment in time.
Rhyme
For the past that is done, use the Aorist for fun.
Story
I woke up (artsnatsi). I drank coffee (khmetsi). I went to work (gnatsi). Everything is finished!
Word Web
挑战
Write 5 sentences about what you did this morning using only Aorist verbs.
文化笔记
The Aorist is the standard past tense in all formal and informal settings.
Western Armenian uses slightly different endings for the Aorist.
In the diaspora, the Aorist is often mixed with loanwords.
The Aorist descends from the Proto-Indo-European aspectual system.
对话开场白
Ի՞նչ արեցիր երեկ (What did you do yesterday?)
Որտե՞ղ գնացիր արձակուրդին (Where did you go on vacation?)
Ի՞նչ կարդացիր վերջին անգամ (What did you read last?)
Ինչպե՞ս հաղթահարեցիր այդ խնդիրը (How did you overcome that problem?)
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
Ես ___ գիրքը:
___ գնացի:
Find and fix the mistake:
Նա գնացին տուն:
Ես տեսա նրան:
Մենք ___:
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
տուն / գնացի / Ես
True or False: Use Aorist for habits.
Score: /8
练习题
8 exercisesԵս ___ գիրքը:
___ գնացի:
Find and fix the mistake:
Նա գնացին տուն:
Ես տեսա նրան:
Մենք ___:
Match: 1. Gnatsi 2. Gnatsir 3. Gnats
տուն / գնացի / Ես
True or False: Use Aorist for habits.
Score: /8
常见问题 (8)
Look at the infinitive form. If it ends in -el, it's -el. If -al, it's -al.
No, Aorist is strictly for the past.
It's regular for most verbs, so it's quite manageable.
Some verbs like 'gnal' (to go) have irregular stems, but the endings remain consistent.
Pronouns are optional because the verb ending shows the person.
Use a rising intonation or add a question particle.
You might be using it for a habit instead of a single action.
Yes, Western Armenian has different endings.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Pretérito indefinido
Spanish has more irregular verbs in the past tense.
Passé simple
Armenian Aorist is used in both speech and writing.
Präteritum
Armenian Aorist is universal.
Ta-form
Japanese does not conjugate for person.
Past tense (Fi'l Madi)
Arabic marks gender in the past tense.
Le particle
Chinese has no verb conjugation.
