Formation of the Imperfect Tense: Conjugation Patterns

In Armenian, the imperfect tense is formed by combining the verb stem with specific endings that correspond to the subject’s person and number. There are two main conjugation patterns for imperfect tense:

1. -եին (էին) Conjugation: This pattern is mostly used with verbs whose stems end in a consonant. It is equivalent to adding “-եմ” (“-էմ”) to the verb stem for the first person singular, “-ես” (“-էս”) for the second person singular, and “-եր” (“-էր”) for the third person singular. For plural, “-եինկք” (“-էինկք”), “-եիք” (“-էիք”), and “-եին” (“-էին”) are used, respectively.
2. -իր Conjugation: This pattern is predominantly applied to verbs with stems ending in a vowel. The respective endings for singular are “-իր” for the first person, “-իր” for the second person, and “-իր” for the third person. Plural forms are created by adding “-իրինկք”, “-իրք”, and “-իրան” to the verb stem.

These patterns can be applied to a wide range of verbs in Armenian grammar, although some may exhibit irregularities that require additional considerations.

Usage: Contexts Requiring Imperfect Tense

The imperfect tense in Armenian grammar can be employed in various contexts to emphasize different aspects of past actions or situations. Here are some typical examples:

• Continuous Past Actions: Imperfect tense is used to express ongoing actions that took place in the past, without focusing on their completion. Example: “Մեկ շաբաթ առաջ աշխատում էի ‘ (“A week ago, I was working“).
• Repeated or Habitual Actions: To convey past actions or habits that were performed on multiple occasions, the imperfect tense is employed. Example: “Տարերական էին երթուղում Հայաստան” (“They used to travel to Armenia every year”).
• Simultaneous Actions: When describing past actions occurring at the same time, the imperfect tense can be utilized to underscore the concurrency. Example: “Ես դասի ընթացքում գրում էի, իսկ նա կիսաֆռանսերենի նկարներ” (“I was writing during the class while he was drawing sketches”).

Exceptions and Irregularities

While the conjugation patterns mentioned above cover most scenarios, it is important to acknowledge some exceptions and irregularities in Armenian grammar. Some verbs, such as “լինել” (to be), have their own unique conjugation patterns, whereas others may show partial irregularities.

The verb “լինել” has the following imperfect tense forms:

• First person singular: “էի”
• Second person singular: “էիր”
• Third person singular: “էր”
• First person plural: “էինկք”
• Second person plural: “էիք”
• Third person plural: “էին”

In conclusion, the imperfect tense is a crucial component of Armenian grammar that enables the accurate communication of past actions. By understanding its formation, usage, and irregularities, one can significantly improve their proficiency in the language and master the art of expressing past events.