The Simple Past in Czech grammar is used to describe actions that occurred in the past and have been completed. It is formed by adding a past tense ending to the verb stem. In Czech, the endings differ based on the gender of the subject. For masculine subjects, the ending is -l (for animate subjects) or -il/-al/-el/-ol (for inanimate subjects); for feminine subjects, the ending is -la; and for neuter subjects, the ending is -lo. With this in mind, let’s practice forming the Simple Past in Czech.
Exercise 1: Simple Past with Masculine Subjects
Včera jsem *šel* (go-masc.) do kina.
Minulý týden jsem *koupil* (buy) nové boty.
Pavel *zavolal* (call) své matce.
Mojžíš *vedl* (lead) svůj lid.
Tomáš *přišel* (come) pozdě.
Minulý týden jsem *koupil* (buy) nové boty.
Pavel *zavolal* (call) své matce.
Mojžíš *vedl* (lead) svůj lid.
Tomáš *přišel* (come) pozdě.
Exercise 2: Simple Past with Feminine and Neuter Subjects
Marie *přišla* (come-fem.) domů brzy.
Lenka *koupila* (buy-fem.) nové šaty.
Klára a Jana *jely* (drive-feminine) na dovolenou.
Hory *byly* (be-neuter) pokryté sněhem.
Rádio *hrálo* (play-neuter) staré písničky.
Lenka *koupila* (buy-fem.) nové šaty.
Klára a Jana *jely* (drive-feminine) na dovolenou.
Hory *byly* (be-neuter) pokryté sněhem.
Rádio *hrálo* (play-neuter) staré písničky.
