Module 08 · Past, future, prefixes · Pagātne, nākotne, priedēkļi · Level B1
Compound (perfect) tenses: saliktā tagadne, pagātne, nākotne
Saliktie laiki
Compound tenses are built from būt ("to be") in the appropriate tense + a past participle ending in -is / -usi (singular) and -uši / -ušas (plural). They mark a result of an action that matters at another point in time — much like the English perfect tenses.
The past participle
Past-tense stem (the one you see in the es past form) + an ending:
| masc. sg. | fem. sg. | masc. pl. | fem. pl. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lasīt (lasīj-) | lasījis | lasījusi | lasījuši | lasījušas |
| braukt (brauc-) | braucis | braukusi | braukuši | braukušas |
| būt (bij-) | bijis | bijusi | bijuši | bijušas |
| iet (gāj-) | gājis | gājusi | gājuši | gājušas |
| mācīties (mācīj-) | mācījies | mācījusies | mācījušies | mācījušās |
Note: in the masculine singular, the infinitive's consonant is restored (braucis); in the other forms, it's the past-tense stem (braukusi).
Three compound tenses
| Tense | Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| saliktā tagadne (present perfect) | esmu + -is | Es esmu izlasījis grāmatu. | I have (already) read the book — result now |
| saliktā pagātne (past perfect) | biju + -is | Es biju izlasījis, kad viņš atnāca. | I had read it before the other event took place |
| saliktā nākotne (future perfect) | būšu + -is | Rīt es būšu izlasījis. | by tomorrow I will have read it |
These map almost one-to-one onto the English present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect.
When to use saliktā tagadne (present perfect)
- Experience: Vai tu esi bijis Parīzē? — Have you ever been to Paris? Es esmu redzējis šo filmu. — I have seen this film.
- A result that still holds now: Es esmu pazaudējis atslēgas — I have lost my keys (and still don't have them). Viņa ir aizgājusi. — She has left (she's not here).
- With jau / vēl ne (already / not yet): Es jau esmu paēdis. — I have already eaten. Es vēl neesmu izlasījis. — I haven't read it yet.
The simple past narrates events: Vakar es izlasīju grāmatu (a plain fact about yesterday). The compound (perfect) tense describes a present state: Es esmu izlasījis (I can discuss it now) — exactly the distinction English makes between "I read the book yesterday" and "I have read the book." And just as English perfect tenses resist a specific past-time adverb (you don't say "I have read it yesterday"), Latvian avoids vakar es esmu izlasījis for the same reason — pair the compound tense with jau/vēl ne-type markers, not with a fixed date.
Agreement
The participle agrees with the subject: Viņš ir atnācis. Viņa ir atnākusi. Viņi ir atnākuši. Viņas ir atnākušas. Mēs esam pieraduši.
Exercise
1) Have you eaten yet? 2) She hasn't arrived yet. 3) I have never been to Liepāja. 4) We have gotten used to it (pierast).
Answers
1) Vai tu jau esi ēdis (paēdis)? 2) Viņa vēl nav atnākusi. 3) Es nekad neesmu bijis Liepājā. 4) Mēs esam pieraduši.
Open the lesson in the trainer — with exercises and a “done” mark →Module test 08