Formation of the Past Progressive Tense

Constructing the Past Progressive tense in Marathi involves a combination of the verb root, an auxiliary verb, and appropriate verb endings. Let’s examine these components more closely.

Verb Root and Auxiliary

The foundation of any Marathi verb in the Past Progressive tense lies in the verb root. To form a Past Progressive construction, this verb root must first be identified.

Next, the auxiliary verb ‘होते’ (hote) is employed to indicate the ongoing nature of the action in the past. This auxiliary verb plays a crucial role in demonstrating that the action was incomplete or in progress during a particular moment in the past.

Subject Agreement

Similar to other tenses in Marathi grammar, the Past Progressive tense must adhere to the rules of subject-verb agreement. The appropriate verb endings are added to the auxiliary verb to match the subject’s gender, number, and person. Here are the subject agreements for the auxiliary verb ‘होते’ (hote):

• First Person Singular: For masculine gender, ‘होतो’ (hoto) is used, and for feminine gender, ‘होते’ (hote) is used.
• First Person Plural: The plural form of ‘होतो’ (hoto) is ‘होते’ (hote), and the plural form of ‘होते’ (hote) is ‘होत्या’ (hotya).
• Second Person Singular: Both masculine and feminine subjects use ‘होतास’ (hotas).
• Second Person Plural: ‘होतात’ (hotat) is used for both masculine and feminine.
• Third Person Singular: ‘होता’ (hota) is used for masculine subjects, while ‘होती’ (hoti) is used for feminine subjects.
• Third Person Plural: Both masculine and feminine subjects use ‘होतया’ (hotya).

Examples of Past Progressive Sentences

Now that we’ve reviewed the components of the Past Progressive tense, let’s dive into a few examples that demonstrate its versatility in Marathi grammar.

1. त्या वेळी ते गाणं पाहत होता (Tya veḷī te gaan paahat hota) – He was watching a movie at that time.
2. आम्ही चांगलं वेळ घेऊन होत्या (Aamhi changala vel gheūn hotya) – We were having a good time.
3. वहिनी किती वर्षांपासून गायन करत होती ते उपक्रम तपासता (Vahinī kitī varshāipasūn gāyan karat hotī te upakrama tapasata) – She was investigating how long the sister had been singing.

Conclusion

Mastering the Past Progressive tense in Marathi grammar is crucial for conveying ongoing past actions. Through careful attention to the verb root, auxiliary verb, and proper subject-verb agreement, Marathi speakers and learners can accurately communicate actions that were in progress during a specified timeframe in the past. This comprehensive understanding of Past Progressive in Marathi grammar will undoubtedly add depth to any conversation or written work in the language.