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Past Tense

Lesson 1: Basics

Unlike in English, past tense verbs in NTC change depending on the verb. So remember to add the conjugated ending!

Lesson 2: Irregular Verbs

Every language has some degree of irregularity, especially English! In NTC, 3rd person singular verbs don't take an ending — because of this, sometimes the verb looks a little different. Usually this means the final "d" is changed to a "t" and sometimes a vowel is added just before.

In the example below, 3rd person singular [xəɻˈət] is irregular!

Singular Pronouns

1st Person

2nd Person (Intimate)

2nd Person (Formal)

3rd Person (Intimate)

3rd Person (Formal)

[mæn]

[təˈtʌ]

[tə]

[ɪˈʂʌn]

[ʊ]

Verb Endings

[-æm]

[-ɪˈʔɪ]

[-ɪ]

[—]

[—]

Examples

[xəɻˈdæm]

[xəɻdɪˈʔɪ]

[xəɻˈdɪ]

[xəɻˈət]

[xəɻˈət]

Translation

"I ate"

"You ate"

"You ate"

"He/she ate"

"He/she ate"

Paucal Pronouns

1st Person

2nd Person (Intimate)

2nd Person (Formal)

3rd Person (Intimate)

3rd Person (Formal)

[mænˈmʌ]

[təˈtʌʂə]

[təˈʂʌ]

[ɪʂʌˈnʌn]

[ʊˈʔʌn]

[-ɪm]

[-ɪˈʔɪt]

[-ɪt]

[-æn]

[-æn]

[xəɻˈdɪm]

[xəɻdɪˈʔɪt]

[xəɻˈdɪt]

[xəɻˈdæn]

[xəɻˈdæn]

"We ate"

"You ate"

"You ate"

"He/she ate"

"He/she ate"

Paucal Pronouns

1st Person

2nd Person (Intimate)

2nd Person (Formal)

3rd Person (Intimate)

3rd Person (Formal)

[mʌ]

[ʂəmʌˈmʌ]

[ʂəˈmʌ]

[ʌnhʌˈhʌ]

[ʌnˈhʌ]

[-ɪm]

[-ɪˈʔɪt]

[-ɪt]

[-ˈænəʔət]

[-ˈænət]

[xəɻ'dɪm]

[xəɻdɪ'ʔɪt]

[xəɻ'dɪt]

[xəɻd'ænəʔət]

[xəɻd'ænət]

"We ate"

"You ate"

"You ate"

"He/she ate"

"He/she ate"

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