Past Tense — Laṅ Lakāra (Imperfect)
भूतकाल — लङ् लकार
Narrating Past Events in Sanskrit · NCERT Class 8
Key Points to Remember
- ▸Laṅ Lakāra = past tense; formed by augment a- + present stem + past endings
- ▸agacchat (3rd sg. past of √gam) | apaṭhat (3rd sg. past of √paṭh)
- ▸3rd pl. past: agacchan (they went) | apaṭhan (they read)
- ▸The a- augment is called "aṭ" in Pāṇinian grammar
Grammar Explained
The Laṅ Lakāra (imperfect) expresses past action. It is formed by adding "a-" (augment, called "aṭ") before the present stem, plus past tense endings. For √gam: a + gaccha + past endings; for √paṭh: a + paṭha + past endings.
| Person | Singular | Dual | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| √gam — went | अगच्छत् (agacchat) | अगच्छताम् (agacchatām) | अगच्छन् (agacchan) |
| √paṭh — read | अपठत् (apaṭhat) | अपठताम् (apaṭhatām) | अपठन् (apaṭhan) |
Example Sentences
रामः वनम् अगच्छत्।
Rāmaḥ vanam agacchat.
Rāma went to the forest.
बालकाः पाठम् अपठन्।
Bālakāḥ pāṭham apaṭhan.
The boys read the lesson.
सीता रामम् अपश्यत्।
Sītā rāmam apaśyat.
Sītā saw Rāma.
Exercises (2)
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Write the Laṅ (past) form
1. Rāma went to the forest (√gam, 3rd sg. past):
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अगच्छत् (agacchat)
2. Students read (√paṭh, 3rd pl. past):
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अपठन् (apaṭhan)
3. How is the past tense formed from the present stem?
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Add augment "a-" (अ-) before the stem + change endings: -at (3rd sg.), -an (3rd pl.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Identify the tense
1. "अगच्छत्" is in which tense?
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Past imperfect
2. The augment "a-" (अ-) added before the stem marks:
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Past tense (Laṅ)
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