( Subject 1)Tense

‫من دوهی زانی ئەو هەمی رۆژا دچيتە هوال وەرزشی‬

ُ
‫علمت البارحة أنه يذهب إلى قاعة الرياضة كل يوم‬
Yesterday I found out that he (goes-went) to the GYM everyday.

‫من هزرکر دێ يا باش بيت ئەم دياريەکێ بۆ ببەێت‬

‫ظننت انه سيكون من الجيد أن نأخذ له هدية‬
I thought it (will-would) be good to take a gift for him.

‫ئەوی گوت وی دوهی تروبێلەکا نۆی کری‬

‫قال بأنه اشترى سيارة جديدة يوم أمس‬
He said that he (bought-had bought) a new car yesterday.

‫من گوت من ئەڤ فليمە يێ ديتي‬

‫قلت بأنني قد شاهدت هذا الفيلم‬
I said I (have-had) seen this movie before.

‫من هزرکر ئەو يا بەرێ خۆ ددەتە ئاهەنگێ‬

‫اعتقدت بأنها تشاهد حفلة‬
I thought that she (is-was) watching a party.

__________________________________
What is the relation between time and verb?
The verb tells us the time.

How many tenses do we have in English and how do we prove them?

Whenever we have a change in time and with that change comes the change of a form
of the verb then we have a tense.

Forms in English are (base, s-form, ing, ed1, ed2).

Examples:
- They play football every week, (tense).
- He plays football every week, (not tense)
- He played football last week, (tense).
- He is playing football, (not tense).
- He was playing football last night at 8 p.m. (not tense).

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- He has played football, (not tense).
- He had played football when he was a child, (not tense).
- He will play a football game later, (not tense).

Thus, in English, we only have two tenses (present and past), future is not tense
because the form of the verb is not changed.

(Subject 2) Present simple

The use of the present simple in some cases that are not related to any time:

- repeated actions/ He often visits his relatives.

- Habits/ They take the car for a drive every night.
- Customs/ Kurds celebrate Newroz on March 21st every year.
- Ability/ She sings beautifully.

The second use of present simple with sensation verb:

E.g: I see two men coming.

The third use is commenting on the event:

E.g: Messi passes the ball to Neymar and Neymar shoots and he scores.

When we describe the recipe we use the present simple:

E.g: I take a cup of flour and two spoons of sugar and mix them.

With performative verbs:

E.g: I declare this session open.
E.g: I name this ship Queen Mari.

‫ئەز يێ گوهلێ دبم يێک يێ دکەتە هەوار‬.

I hear someone screaming.

‫ بەلێ ڤان دوو هەيڤا ئەز يێ ل ئەربيل دژيم‬.‫ يێ ئەم ل دهوکێ دژين‬١٩٨٠ ‫ئەڤە ژ ساال‬.
We have lived in Duhok since 1980, but these two months I have been living in Erbil.

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Use of present simple to indicate future:-
1- Something scheduled / The train leaves at 8:00.
2- Time table / The lecture starts at 4:00.
3- Headlines / The Prime Minister of KRG visits Turkey. (Next Sunday)

Use of present simple to indicate past:

1- Communicative verbs:
E.g: I hear that you got married. (I hear that repeatedly)
E.g: I heard that you got married. (I heard it once)
2- Headlines:
E.g: Opec oil Ministers Hold their First Meeting in Vienna.
3- Narration:
E.g: Yesterday, I was in the city center and I saw this car coming very fast .

( Subject 3 ) Past tense (Mr. Adel)

Past tense is something that has happened before the time of speech.
Uses:
1- to talk about something that happened at a specific time:
E.g: He arrived last night.
* but if the time is known by the speaker and listener there is no need to mention time.
For example, he didn't attend the meeting.

2- to talk about something that happened repeatedly in past:

E.g: When they were in Turkey, they went to the beach every morning.

The cases that we use past tense to talk about present or to indicate present
time:

1- Indirect speech (reported speech)

In transforming direct speech into indirect, the verbs are changed to the past
tense

- He said “I play football every day”

- He said that he played football every day”
Verb (played) is in the past but it's not mean that this thing has finished.

2- Polite attitude
Past tense to introduce present tense to show polite attitude:
E.g: Did you want to see me?
E.g: Could you help me, please?

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3- Distancing (means an unreal situation):
It may also be connected with reality, i.e., the past tense may refer to unreal
situations.

E.g: If he had money, he would buy that house.

With wishes:
E.g: I wish I could, but I have to go.

* If your wish is about the past we will express it as past perfect.

* If your wish is in the present we will express it as past simple.
* If your wish is in future we will express it as past simple.

(Subject 4) Kurdish past tense

1- past tense refers to the moment before the time of speaking, similar to the English
past tense.
E.g. They all remained silent (‫)ئەو هەمی بێدەنگ بوون‬

2- past action in the indefinite past (present perfect). They may be connected with the
present using their effect or result.
E.g. The plane has arrived (‫)فرۆکە گەهشت‬

3- A minor use of this tense is for future actions. This is usually found in negative
promises. It is widely used in literary style.
E.g. I promise I shall not stay in this town (‫)سوزبيت ئەز نەمينە ڤی باژێری‬

4- Formula
A) Intransitive
* Affirmative/ e.g. ‫ئەز چووم‬
* Negative/ e.g. ‫ئەز نە چووم‬
* Yes/No questions/ e.g. ‫ئەرێ ئەز چووم؟‬
* WH-questions/ e.g. ‫ئەو کيڤە چوو؟‬

B) Transitive
* Affirmative/ e.g. ‫من تو ديتی‬
* Negative/ e.g. ‫من تو نە ديتی‬
* Yes/No questions/ e.g. ‫ئەرێ وی ئەز ديتم؟‬
* WH-questions/ e.g. ‫وی کەنگی خانی فروت؟‬

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 ‫‪(Subject 5)The present tense in kurdish‬‬

‫ئەو هەمی روژا دچیتە هوال وەرزشی ‪.‬‬

‫‪/‬د‪repetition mark /‬‬
‫‪/‬چیـ‪stem /‬‬
‫‪/‬ت‪ /‬جهنافێ لکاو‬
‫‪How do we use simple presents in Kurdish? Or‬‬
‫)‪(Uses of present simple in Kurdish‬‬

‫‪1_ Actions not related to time:‬‬

‫ئەو بەردەوام سەرەدانا کەسوکارێن خو دکەت ‪Repeated actions:‬‬

‫ئەو هەرشەف ترومبێلێ دبەن‪Habits: …..‬‬
‫کورد ئاهەنگا نەوروزێ‪٢١‬ی ئادارێ دگێرن ‪Custom:‬‬

‫ئەو ب دەنگەکێ خوش سترانا دبێژیت‪Ability:‬‬

‫ئاف ل پال گەرمیا ‪ ١٠٠‬دکەلیت‪Facts:‬‬

‫‪2_ to indicate future:‬‬

‫شەمەندەفر دەمژمێر ‪ ٨‬برێدکەفیت‪Schedule:‬‬

‫وانە ل دەمژمێر ‪ ٤‬دەستپێدکەت ‪Time table:‬‬
‫سەروک وەزیر سەرەدانا تورکیا دکەت‪Headline:‬‬

‫‪3_ to indicate past:‬‬

‫سەروک وەزیر سەرەدانا ترکیا دکەت ‪Headline:‬‬

‫ئەز هند مامە ل هیفیێ شنیکا یێ دهێت و دبێژیت‪Narration:‬‬
‫بشکێت بپارێزیت ‪Prayers and curses:‬‬

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 The present tense in Arabic

Sometimes in Arabic and Kurdish takes absolute tense but in general it's relative.

Absolute ‫هو يذهب إلى الحديقة كل يوم‬

Relative ‫علمت البارحة انه يذهب الى الحديقة كل يوم‬.

If the first verb is present, the sentence is absolute.

If the first verb is in the future or past so the sentence is relative.

Uses of present tense in Arabic

1- Actions not related to time like (habits, customs, repeated action, and facts).
‫ هو يلعب كرة قدم كل يوم‬/‫مثال‬.
2- Present actions/actions that are happening while we are speaking.
‫ أنا اتحدث اليكم‬/‫( مثال‬I am talking to you).

This use is not similar to English.

3- Future
Scheduled: ‫تغادر الحافلة في الساعة الثامنة‬
Timetable: ‫تبدأ المحاضرة في الرابعة‬
Headline: ‫رئيس وزراء إقليم كوردستان يقوم بزيارة إلى أمريكا‬.

This use is similar to English.

4- Past

Headline: ‫رئيس وزراء إقليم كوردستان يقوم بزيارة إلى أمريكا‬.

Narration to about past:

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 ( Subject 6) Past tense Arabic

1- past tense refers to the moment before the time of speaking including short acts, long
acts...etc.
E.g. ‫( وصل القطار قبل قليل‬the train arrived a short time ago)
E.g. ‫( عاش آزاد في باريس وهم طفل‬Azad lived in Paris when he was a child)

2- past actions in the indefinite past (present perfect). They may be connected with the present
using their effect or result.
E.g. ‫( وصلت الطائرة‬the plane has arrived)
E.g. ‫( فقدت كتابي‬I have lost my book)

3- wishes, prayers, curses

E.g. ‫( عاشت العدالة‬Long live justice)
E.g. ‫( بارك هللا فيك‬God bless you)

4- A minor use of this tense is for future actions. This is usually found in negative promises. It is
widely used in literary style.
E.g. ‫( وعد مني أني ال أقمت بهذه البلدة‬I promise I shall not stay in this town)

5- For proverbs, examples, or what is in print.

E.g. ….‫( قال الكاتب‬The write says…)

( Subject 7) Usage

a) The Kurdish simple past tense

usually corresponds closely to the English past tense to refer to all types of acts
completed before the present moment.

Ex. They all remained silent.

b) As in Arabic, a minor use of this tense is for

future actions of which the speaker is so certain that he uses the perfect form as
if they had already taken place. This use is usually found in (negative) promises;
it is mostly found in literary style nowadays.

Ex. promise I shall not stay in this town .

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 (Subject 8) Particles and Time Reference

Particles and Time Reference (Kurdish)

‎ - ‫ نه‬+ past tense to refer to past time, in negation.

1
E.g. Your brother has not come yet (‫)برايێ تە هێشتا نە هاتييە‬

‎ - ‫ نا‬+ past tense to refer to the future, in negation.

2
E.g. The team will not arrive in time (‫)تيم دوەختێ خودا ناگەهيت‬

‎ - ‫ ئەگەر‬+ perfect/ imperfect to refer open condition.

3
E.g. If you do that, you will be sorry (‫ئەگەر تە وەکر دێ پەشيمان بی‬
‎ ‫)ئەگەر تو وەبکەی دێ پەشيمان‬
‫بی‬

Particles and Time Reference (Arabic)

‎ - ‫ لم‬+ imperfect (‫ )مضارع‬to refer to past time, in negation.

1
E.g. Your brother has not come yet (‫)لم يحضر أخوك بعد‬

‎ - ‫ لن‬+ imperfect (‫ )مضارع‬to refer to the future, in negation.

2
E.g. The team will not arrive in time (‫)لن يصل الفريق في الوقت المناسب‬

‎ - ‫ لو‬،‫ إن‬+ perfect/ imperfect to refer to open conditions.

3
E.g. If you do that, you will be sorry
‎(‫إن فعلت ذلك ندمت‬
‎ ‫)إن تفعل ذلك‬
‫تندم‬

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 (Subject 9) Absolute and Relative Tense

In English

1- Absolute tenses (finite verbs) include both present and past.

E.g. I play, she played football.

2- Relative tense (non-finite verbs) include verbs, which take its time reference
from the finite verbs (to + base, V.ing, Past participle)
E.g. He is playing football. (relative).

E.g. Sitting (relative/ its point of reference is future) in the corner, the boy will not
see anything.

E.g. With one of its wings broken (relative/ its point of reference is past), the bird
did not fly

In Kurdish

1- Absolute tenses (finite verbs) include both present and past.

E.g. ‫ ئەز دچمە بازاری‬/‫ئەز چوومە بازاری‬

2- Relative tense (non-finite verbs) include verbs, which take its time reference
from the finite verbs.
E.g. ‫ئەز چوومە دژوورڤە وئەويێ سترانا دبێژيت‬. (relative/ it's point of reference is past)

In Arabic

1- Absolute tenses (finite verbs) include both present and past.

E.g. ‫ وهي تذهب‬،‫هو ذهب‬

2- Relative tense (non-finite verbs) include verbs, which take their time reference
from the finite verbs.
E.g. ‫قال إنه يذهب إلى السوق كل يوم‬
(relative/ it's point of reference is past)

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(Subject 10) Comparison of tense in English, Kurdish, and Arabic

Comparison of tense in English and Kurdish

1- The present tense in English and Kurdish expresses facts, habits, customs,
and repeated actions.
E.g. I go to the market once a week. (‫)حەفتيێ جارەکێ دچمە بازاری‬

2- The present tense in English and Kurdish does not refer to an action taking
place at the moment of speaking. The Kurdish equivalent is expressed by (،‫ يا‬،‫يێن‬
‫)يێ‬.
E.g. Layla is preparing the tea.
‎(‫)لەيال يا چايێ تێدکەت‬

3- The present tense in English as Kurdish may refer to the future by using an
adverbial of futurity.
E.g. My brother leaves for Cairo tomorrow.
‎(‫)برايێ من سوباهی دچيتە قاهيرێ‬

4- The present tense in English and Kurdish is used to express past times in
newspaper headlines.
E.g. The foreign minister of Turkey arrives in Paris.
‎(‫)وەزيرێ دەرڤە یێ تورکيا دگەهيتە پاریسێ‬

5- The English past tense refers to a definite past (past simple), the same in
Kurdish past tense.
E.g. I saw this man last year.
‎(‫)من ئەڤ زەاڵمە ل سااڵ بووری ديت‬

6- The past tense in English and Kurdish refers to the indefinite past (present
perfect). In Kurdish, this is expressed by using (‫ يێ‬،‫ يا‬،‫)يێن‬.
E.g. I have seen this man twice; his face is familiar to me.
‎(‫)من ئەڤ زەاڵمە دوو جارا يێ ديتی؛ سەروچاڤێن وی بەرنياسن‬

7- English uses the present tense when we talk about (Proverbs, or what is in
print) while Kurdish uses either past tense or present perfect.
E.g. Shakespeare says...‎(‫)شەکسپيری يێ گوتی‬

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Comparison of tense in English and Arabic

1- The present tense in English and Kurdish expresses facts, habits, customs,
and repeated actions.
E.g. I go to the market once a week.
‎(‫)أذهب إلى السوق مرة كل يوم‬

2- The present tense often refers to an action taking place at the moment of
speaking in Arabic while in English it is the opposite.

E.g. Layla is preparing the tea.

‎(‫)تعد ليلى الشاي اآلن‬

3- The present tense in English and Arabic may refer to the future by using an
adverbial of futurity.
E.g. My brother leaves for Cairo tomorrow.
‎(ً‫)يذهب أخي إلى القاهرة غدا‬

4- The present tense in English and Arabic is used to express past time in
newspaper headlines.
E.g. The foreign minister of Turkey arrives in Paris.
‎(‫)وزير خارجية تركيا يصل إلى باريس‬

5- The English past tense refers to a definite past (past simple), the same in
Arabic.
E.g. I saw this man last year.
‎(‫)رأيت هذا الرجل في العام الماضي‬

6- English uses the present tense while Arabic uses either past tense or present
perfect when we talk about (Proverbs or what is in print).
E.g. Shakespeare says...
‎(‫)…قال شكسبير‬

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 ( Subject 11) Means of Expressing Future Time in English

It has already been pointed out that future time in English is not expressed by
means of tense but by other devices. These are:

(a) The modals shall/will + infinitive. Shall is used with the first person only,
mainly in British English.
– I shall try to be there tonight. (Will is used with all the three persons.)
– She will be back tomorrow.

(b) Be going to + infinitive.

This construction expresses future of present
intention (personal subject) or present indication or cause (non-personal and
personal subject).

Ex. I am going to pay the bill next week (Intention)

Ex. It is going to rain soon. (Indication - clouds) The chair is going to collapse.
(Indication)

c) Progressive Aspect, Present

This construction expresses the future of the present arrangement. It is usually
used with an adverbial .
Ex. John was reading when the phone rang.

d) Simple Aspect, Present

The simple aspect, present tense, is usually used to express future time fixed in
the present, as in calendar events and plans.

Ex– I leave for Paris tomorrow.

(e) The Modal Shall/Will + Progressive Aspect

This construction is often used especially in
spoken English to denote future time when a
casual sense is required (in contrast with the use in (a), (d), and (b) where a
greater degree of intention is involved).

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Ex– I'll be seeing you. We shall be coming this way again.

(f) Be + About to + Infinitive

'Be about to' is used with the infinitive to refer to the near future.

Ex– The plane is about to take off.

(g) Be to + Infinitive
This construction denotes the future with present arrangement, command, or
predestined event.

Ex:for (arrangement)
– We are to meet here at six o'clock.

Ex.for((command)
– You are to pay for the whole damage.

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 ( Subject 12) Means of Expressing Future Time in Kurdish

Uses of dê
The dê construction can occur in the following types of usage:

1- dê is used for expressing future time.

Ex– Ez dê bo te piçekê jê bêjim.
“I will sing a little bit of it for you.”

2- This form is also used in statements where the likelihood or the certainty of a
state of affairs is more in focus than its location in future time.
Ex– xû ez bêjim ruha xwe bidine min, dê dine min.
Ex- “even if I say give your lives for me, they will give it for me.” (Dostînî)

3- The form can be used with imperative force.

Ex– Ev şeve gotê saat dozdeh tu dê çî mala wan dê bêjî “babe mine gotî he ehe
bila bête vêrê”

“’This night,’” he told him, ‘at twelve o’clock, you’ll go to his house and say to him:
My father said: he must come here immediately’” (Dostînî)

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 (Subject 13) Future in the Past in Kurdish

Future in the past is expressed by the particle da in Kurdish.

The sentence (a) expresses unachieved future actions in the past:

(a)- Em da genimî çînin.

“We wanted to sow wheat. [But it rained so we did not sow and we are returning
home]”

Whereas, sentence (b) expresses achieved future in past actions:

(b)- Jiyana wan ser tîcaretê bî, ser hatin u çunê bî, da çin bu xêr bajêr, da hinde
tişta bin wêrê, û da hinde tişta zivirrîninve.

“Their existence was based on trade, on traveling, they would go to another city,
they would carry some goods there and they would bring other goods back
again.” (Sînem)

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