The past tense
Past tense uses an -l form plus present in the first and second persons: . A neuter singular uses , and neuter plural .
A group with a masculine animate member usually takes -li; all-female or masculine-inanimate groups use -ly. Polite one-person is for a man or for a woman. Place short auxiliaries after the first phrase: . Third person has no auxiliary: .
Useful past forms include . Czech aspect distinguishes a process from its completion: . Learn these pairs through situations rather than changing endings mechanically.
| Czech | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I got up today. | |
| I got up today. | |
| Jan got up at five. | |
| Jan got up at five. | |
| Petra bought milk. | |
| Petra bought milk. | |
| Have you got up? (polite) | |
| Have you got up? (polite) | |
Dnes jsem vstal.I got up today.
Dnes jsem vstala.I got up today.
Jan vstal v pět.Jan got up at five.
Petra koupila mléko.Petra bought milk.
Už jste vstal?Have you got up? (polite)
Už jste vstala?Have you got up? (polite)
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
I got up today.
.
I got up today.
.
Jan got up at five.
.
Petra bought milk.
?
Have you got up? (polite)
?
Have you got up? (polite)
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
Dnes jsem .
I got up today.
Dnes jsem .
I got up today.
Jan v pět.
Jan got up at five.
Petra mléko.
Petra bought milk.
Už jste ?
Have you got up? (polite)
Už jste ?
Have you got up? (polite)
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Dnes jsem .
I got up today.
Dnes jsem .
I got up today.
Jan v pět.
Jan got up at five.
Petra mléko.
Petra bought milk.
Už jste ?
Have you got up? (polite)
Už jste ?
Have you got up? (polite)
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
I got up today.
I got up today.
Jan got up at five.
Petra bought milk.
Have you got up? (polite)
Have you got up? (polite)
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
I got up today.
You say:
Use the meaning and Czech pattern explained in this unit.
I got up today.
You say:
Use the meaning and Czech pattern explained in this unit.
Jan got up at five.
You say:
Use the meaning and Czech pattern explained in this unit.
Jan got up at five.
You say:
Use the meaning and Czech pattern explained in this unit.
Petra bought milk.
You say:
Use the meaning and Czech pattern explained in this unit.
Petra bought milk.
You say:
Use the meaning and Czech pattern explained in this unit.
Have you got up? (polite)
You say:
Use the meaning and Czech pattern explained in this unit.
Have you got up? (polite)
You say:
Use the meaning and Czech pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
