Tenses - Kazakh Grammar

Tense theory in Kazakh grammar revolves around the classification of verbs based on time. Kazakh language has three main tenses: past, present, and future.

In the past tense, actions that occurred in the past are described. This tense is formed by adding the appropriate past tense marker to the verb stem. For example, the verb “to eat” in the past tense is “тамау” (tamaý), where the past tense marker “-м” (-m) is added to the stem “там” (tam).

The present tense is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment or actions that are generally true. It is usually formed using the verb stem without any additional markers. For example, the present tense of the verb “to speak” is “сөйлеу” (söylew).

The future tense is used to express actions that will happen in the future. This tense is formed by adding the future tense marker “-дық” (-dıq) to the verb stem. For example, the future tense of the verb “to go” is “бару” (baru).

Understanding tenses in Kazakh grammar is essential for effective communication and expressing ideas accurately. Mastery of tense theory allows students of the Kazakh language to convey the appropriate time frame of their actions and thoughts.