Tlamachtiliztli 14 (Lesson 14) Tlachihualiztli tlen panoc Part 1 (Past Tense Verbs Part 1)

TlapannextiliztliIntroduction

In this lesson we will see the verbs in past tense. In Nahuatl, verbs are divided into four classes. These are divided in relation to their conjugation with past, present, and future tense. Transitive and intransitive verbs can exists within any of the four classes.

In the same way that we have seen conjugations in previous lessons, the past tense changes verbs through its suffix. Next we will see various examples of the past tense in Class 1.

TlahtoltecpanaliztliGrammar

Class 1

In class 1, verbs take the suffix /c/ to mark the singular and the suffix /queh/ to mark the plural. For example:

ni – (verbal base) – c

ti – (verbal base) – c

ø – (verbal base) – c

ti – (verbal base) – queh

in – (verbal base) – queh

ø – (verbal base) – queh

Tlamanextilli tlen ahahuiltiliztli tlen tlachihualiztli tlen panoc (Example of the conjugation of verbs)

/choca/ “to cry”

Nichocac “I cried”

Tichocac “You cried”

Chocac “She/he cried”

Tichocaqueh “We cried”

Inchocaqueh “You (plural) cried”

Chocaqueh “They cried”

/patla/ “to change”

Nicpatlac “I changed” (something)

Ticpatlac “You changed” (something)

Quipatlac “She/he changed” (something)

Ticpatlaqueh “We changed” (something)

Inquipatlaqueh “You (plural) changed” (something)

Quipatlaqueh “They changed” (something)

/oni/ “to drink”

Niconic “I drank” (something)

Ticonic “You drank” (something)

Quionic “She/he drank” (something)

Ticoniqueh “We drank” (something)

Inquioniqueh “You (plural) drank” (something)

Quioniqueh “They drank” (something)

Yancuic Tlahtolli tlen TlamachtiliztliNew vocabulary

choca “to cry”

patla “to change” (something)

oni “to drink” (something)

quiza “to go out”

toca “to plant corn”

hueli “to be able”

cohua “to buy” (something)

ahcocui “to preserve, put away” (something)

piya “to have” (something)

tequi “to cut” (something)

tici “to grind corn

nehnemi “to walk”

Chantequitl tlen momachtianihPractice for Students

Conjugate the following verbs in the past tense in all persons and in singular and plural.

Class 1

Ahci (to arrive)

Ahqui (to swim)

Huetzca (to laugh)