Language Refresher Group 14
Irregular Verbs in the
Past
This booklet is focused in the past tense of irregular verbs, but it gives info also
on the regular verbs and the present tense.
Vilma Qerfozi
10/7/2011
Preface
This booklet was designed to teach the Albanian Irregular Verbs in the past tense.
In it you will find what are the irregular verbs, and how they are conjugated in the
Simple Present, Simple Past, Imperfect and their Participle. From all the forms of
Past Tense, this booklet focuses more on the usage of the Imperfect, because it is
used widely in the Albanian language.
It looks like our language has more irregular verbs than regular. What makes the
irregulars more “fascinating” is that there are other irregulars among irregulars. For
example, we can say that all –ej verbs conjugate like this. But then there will be
another –ej verb that will “disobey” that rule!
Any further comment, question, suggestion is welcomed.
Vilma Qerfozi
PC Language Teacher
(March 2007 – October 2011)
vqerfozi@gmail.com
Contents
General overview .....................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Irregulars of the first group ..............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Irregulars of the second group......................................................................................................... 6
Verbs of the third group........................................................................................................................ 9
Past tenses and their usage ............................................................................................................. 10
2
General Overview
Albanian verbs are divided into three groups: verbs that end in –oj/-j (first group), verbs that
end in a consonant (second group), verbs that end in a vowel (third group). Verbs of the first
and second group are divided into regular and irregular. Verbs of the third group are very few in
number and they are almost all irregular.
Regular verbs (review)
The regular verbs of the first conjugation are all the verbs that end in –oj. The regular verbs of
the second conjugation do not have a characteristic ending. You should memorize them.
Some –oj verbs are:
Lexoj (read), punoj (work), pushoj (rest), kërkoj (look for), harroj (forget), filloj (start), mbaroj
(finish), kopjoj (copy; cheat), skanoj (scan), fotokopjoj (fotocopy), etc, etc. (There are so many
verbs that end in –oj)
The regular verbs of the second group are:
Hap (open), mbyll (close), humb (lose), puth (kiss), prek (touch), fik (turn off; switch off), lidh
(tie), mbush (fill in), zbraz (to empty), vendos (to decide; to place), përdor (to use). (These are
the only regular verbs of this group.)
Below is a chart of regular verbs conjugated in three tenses. The verbs above are conjugated
the same.
Present
Harroj
Harron
Harron
Harrojmë
Harroni
Harrojnë
-oj verbs
Past
Harrova
Harrove
Harroi
Harruam
Harruat
Harruan
Imperfect
Harroja
Harroje
Harronte
Harronim
Harronit
Harronin
Present
Qesh
Qesh
Qesh
Qeshim
Qeshni
Qeshin
Verbs that end in a consonant
Past
Imperfect
Qesha
Qeshja
Qeshe
Qeshje
Qeshi
Qeshte
Qeshëm
Qeshnim
Qeshët
Qeshnit
Qeshën
Qeshnin
Participles: Harroj – harruar, Qesh – qeshur
Note: The verbs paguaj (pay), gatuaj (cook), shuaj (extinguish), and shkruaj (write) in the Simple
Past tense conjugate just like the –oj verbs. You drop the –uaj and add the endings:
-ova, -ove, -oi, -uam, -uat, -uan.
Ex: pagova, pagove, pagoi, paguam, paguat, paguan
Even their participles are like the –oj verbs. : paguar (paid), gatuar (cooked), shuar
(extinguished), shkruar (written)
3
Irregular verbs of the first group are all the verbs that end in –j (-uaj, -ej, -ij, -aj, -ëj, -yj, -yej)
These verbs keep the j in the past:
Present
Simple Past
Endings
of the
Simple
Past:
One verb conjugated
Participle
Simple Present
Simple Past
Mbaj
Luaj
Gjuaj
Ruaj
Mbajta (kept)
ta
Luaj
Luaj – ta
Luajta (played)
te
Luan
Luaj – te
Gjuajta (kicked)
ti
Luan
Luaj – ti
Ruajta (saved;
tëm
Luajmë
Luaj – tëm
preserved, guarded)
tët
Luani
Luaj – tët
Vuaj
Vuajta (suffered)
tën
Luajnë
Luaj – tën
Kruaj
Kruajta (scratched)
Shkruaj*
Shkruajta (wrote)
All the other –j verbs, drop the –j in the Simple Past and you add the endings.
Mbajtur
Luajtur
Gjuajtur
Ruajtur
Arrij
Arrita (arrived;
achieved;
managed to)
Gjej
Gjeta (found)
Vij**
Erdha (came)
Laj
Ndaj
Qaj
Shaj
Thaj
Shtyj
Fshij
Përfshij
Ngrij
Shkrij
Blej***
Fryj
Pështyj
Ndjej
Lava (washed)
Ndava (shared)
Qava (cried)
Shava (insulted)
Thava (dried)
Shtyva (pushed)
Fshiva (deleted; swept)
Përfshiva (included)
Ngriva (froze)
Shkriva (melted)
Bleva (bought)
Fryva (blew)
Pështyva (spited)
Ndjeva (felt)
Bëj
Hyj
Bëra (did, made)
Hyra (entered)
Vuajtur
Kruajtur
Shkruajtur
ta
te
ti
tëm
tët
tën
Arrij
Arrin
Arrin
Arrijmë
Arrini
Arrijnë
Arri-ta
Arri-te
Arri-ti
Arri-tëm
Arri-tët
Arri-tën
Arritur
a
e
i
ëm
ët
ën
-va
-ve
-u
-më
-të
-në
Vij
Vjen
Vjen
Vijmë
Vini
Vijnë
Laj
Lan
Lan
Lajmë
Lani
Lajnë
Erdha
Erdhe
Erdhi
Erdhëm
Erdhët
Erdhën
La-va
La-ve
La-u
La-më
La-të
La-në
Ardhur
(r)a
(r)e
(r)i
-më
-të
-në
Bëj
Bën
Bën
Bëjmë
Bëni
Bëjnë
Bë–ra
Bë–re
Bë–ri
Bë-më
Bë–të
Bë–në
Bërë
Hyrë
Gjetur
Larë
Ndarë
Qarë
Sharë
Tharë
Shtyrë
Fshirë
Përfshirë
Ngrirë
Shkrirë
Blerë
Fryrë
Pështyrë
Ndjerë
4
Simple
Present
Simple past
Kërcej
Përkthej
Ushqej
Kthej
Pëlqej
Kursej
Gënjej
Kërceva (danced)
Përktheva (translated)
Ushqeva (fed)
Ktheva (returned)
Pëlqeva (liked)
Kurseva (saved money)
Gënjeva (lied)
Endings of
the Simple
Past
-va
-ve
-u
-yem
-yet
-yen
Conjugation
Simple Present
Conjugation Participle
Simple Past
Kërcej
Kërcen
Kërcen
Kërcejmë
Kërceni
Kërcejnë
Kërceva
Kërceve
Kërceu
Kërcyem
Kërcyet
Kërcyen
Kërcyer
Përkthyer
Ushqyer
Kthyer
Pëlqyer
Kursyer
Gënjyer
Conjugation
Simple Present
Conjugation
Simple Past
Participle
Lyej
Lyen
Lyen
Lyejmë
Lyeni
Lyejnë
Leva
Leve
Leu
Lyem
Lyet
Lyen
Lyer
Three more irregulars!
Simple
Present
Simple Past
Lyej
leva (painted the
walls; dyed the hair)
Thyej
Kryej
Theva (broke sth)
Kreva (did)
Endings
of the
Simple
Past
(e)va
(e)ve
(e) u
-yem
-yet
-yen
Thyer
Kryer
And the list of irregulars is endless... Here is another one.
Përziej (to mix; to stir) – This verb has its own conjugation
Past tense: përzieva, përzieve, përzieu, përziem, përziet, përzien
Notes:
*The verb “shkruaj” has two ways of forming the Simple Past (shkrova and shkruajta) and the
Participle (shkruar and shkruajtur). In each case, grammatically right is the first form.
The above note applies to “Shuaj” (to extinguish) as well.
**The verb “vij” in the Simple Present Tense conjugates differently from the other –oj/-j verbs
***Blej in the Simple Present Tense changes one letter in the second person plural (blini).
Blej, blen, blen, blejmë, blini, blejnë
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Irregulars of the second group
Irregular verbs of the second group don’t have any distinctive feature in the Simple Present
tense. But you see that they are irregular when they are conjugated in the Simple Past. They
change or drop letters, that’s why they are irregular. As for the endings, most of these verbs
take the same endings that regular verbs of the second group take: -a, -e, -i, -ëm, -ët, -ën.
Simple
Present
Simple Past
Endings of
the Simple
Past
a
e
i
ëm
ët
ën
Conjugation
Simple
Present
Mbledh
Mbledh
Mbledh
Mbledhim
Mblidhni
Mbledhin
Conjugation
Simple Past
Participle
Mbledh
Hedh
Zgjedh
Heq
Tërheq
Mblodha (gathered)
Hodha (threw)
Zgjodha (chose)
Hoqa (took off)
Tërhoqa (pushed)
Mblodh-a
Mblodh-e
Mblodh-i
Mblodh-ëm
Mblodh-ët
Mblodh-ën
Mbledhur
Hedhur
Zgjedhur
Hequr
Tërhequr
Marr
Mora (took)
The same
The same
Mor-a
Mor-e
Mor-i
Mor-ëm
Mor-ët
Mor-ën
Dol-a
Dol-e
Dol-i
Dol-ëm
Dol-ët
Dol-ën
Marrë
Dola (went out)
Marr
Merr
Merr
Marrim
Merrni
Marrin
Dal
Del
Del
Dalim
Dilni
Dalin
Dal
Dalë
The verbs below drop the “j” in the past tense + they change the “e” into “o”
Sjell
Nxjerr
Vjedh
Vjell
Vjel
Përcjell
Mbështjell
Flas
Pjek
Ndjek
Djeg (burn)
Solla (brought)
Nxorra (got out)
Vodha (stole)
Volla (threw up)
Vola (harvested)
Përcolla
(swallowed; saw
off)
Mbështolla
(wrapped)
Fola
The same
Sjell
Sjell
Sjell
Sjellim
Sillni
Sjellin
Solla
Solle
Solli
Sollëm
Sollët
Sollën
Sjellë
Nxjerrë
Vjedhur
Vjellë
Vjelë
Përcjellë
The same
The same
Fola
Fole
Foli
Folëm
Folët
Folën
Poqa
Poqe
Poqi
Poqëm
Poqët
Poqën
Folur
Poqa (baked)
Ndoqa (followed;
chased)
Dogja (just like
pjek, but g
becomes gj)
Flas
Flet
Flet
Flasim
Flisni
Flasin
Pjek
Pjek
Pjek
Pjekim
Piqni
Pjekin
Pjekur
Ndjekur
Djegur
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There is a group of verbs that end in –s. They are of two types: 1)Verbs that change the final –s
into –t; 2) Verbs that change both the s and the vowel preceding it (-as / es > it)
Endings
of the
Simple
Past
a
e
i
ëm
ët
ën
Conjugation
Simple
Present
Conjugation
Simple Past
Participle
Përgatis
Përgatit
Përgatit
Përgatisim
Përgatisni
Përgatisin
Përgatita
Përgatite
Përgatiti
Përgatitëm
Përgatitët
Përgatitën
Përgatitur
Simple
Present
Simple Past
Përgatis
Përgatita (prepared)
Përsëris
Përsërita (repeated;
reviewed)
Shëtis
Shëtita (had a walk)
Ngjis
Ngjita
(glued; climbed)
Ngjitur
Pyes
Përshëndes
Pyeta
Përshëndeta (said
hi)
Mbështeta (leaned;
supported)
Pyetur
Përshëndetur
Futur
Zgjatur
Bërtitur
Thërras
Pres
Zbres
Shes
Paraqes
Futa (put in)
Zgjata (lasted)
Bërtita (yelled,
screamed, shouted)
Thërrita (called up)
Prita (waited)
Zbrita (got off)
Shita (sold)
Paraqita (displayed)
Vdes*
Vdiqa (died)
Mbështes
Fus
Zgjas
Bërtas
Përsëritur
Shëtitur
Mbështetur
The
same
a
e
ëm
ët
ën
Bërtas
Bërtet
Bërtet
Bërtasim
Bërtisni
Bërtasin
Bërtita
Bërtite
Bërtiti
Bërtitëm
Bërtitët
Bërtitën
Vdes
Vdes
Vdes
Vdesim
Vdisni
Vdesin
Vdiqa
Vdiqe
Vdiq
Vdiqëm
Vdiqët
Vdiqën
Thërritur
Pritur
Zbritur
Shitur
Paraqitur
Vdekur
Shoh (see), jap (give) and them (say) are very irregular! Look at the chart below.
Shoh
Sheh
Sheh
Shohim
Shihni
Shohin
Simple Present
Jap
Them
Jep
Thua
Jep
Thotë
Japim
Themi
Jepni
Thoni
Japin
Thonë
Pashë**
Pe
Pa
Pamë
Patë
Panë
Simple Past
Dhashë
Thashë
Dhe
The
Dha
Tha
Dhamë
Thamë
Dhatë
Thatë
Dhanë
Thanë
Participle
Parë (seen)
Dhënë (given)
Thënë (said)
*As you can see, vdes does not conjugate like the other verbs that end in –s.
**Pashë is more commonly used instead of “shikova” (Simple Past of “shikoj”).
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A few more irregulars, and we are done with this group! 
Simple
Present
Simple Past
Njoh (to know
sb; to be
familiar with
sth)
Njoha
Endings of
the Simple
Past
a
e
u
ëm
ët
ën
Conjugation
Simple Present
Conjugation
Simple Past
Participle
Njoh
Njeh
Njeh
Njohim
Njihni
Njohin
Njoha
Njohe
Njohu
Njohëm
Njohët
Njohën
Njohur
Prerë
Pres (to cut; to Preva
reserve a
ticket)
va
ve
u
më
të
në
Pres
Pret
Pret
Presim
Prisni
Presin
Pre-va
Pre-ve
Pre-u
Pre-më
Pre-të
Pre-në
The verbs “kam” and “jam”
It is common in the spoken (but even written) language to use the form of the Imperfect
instead of the Simple Past. (Whether you are talking about a habit in the past or a finished
action in the past).
Kam
Ke
Ka
Kemi
Keni
Kanë
Present
Jam
Je
Është
Jemi
Jeni
Janë
Simple Past Tense
Pata
Qeshë
Pate
Qe
Pati
Qe
Patëm
Qemë
Patët
Qetë
Patën
Qenë
Kisha
Kishe
Kishte
Kishim
Kishit
Kishin
Imperfect
Isha
Ishe
Ishte
Ishim
Ishit
Ishin
Their participles:
Pasur (had)
Qenë (been)
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Verbs of the Third Group
Simple Present tense
Drink
Eat
Stay
Leave
Walk
Pi
Pi
Pi
Pimë
Pini
Pinë
Ha
Ha
Ha
Hamë
Hani
Hanë
Rri
Rri
Rri
Rrimë
Rrini
Rrinë
Lë
Lë
Lë
Lëmë
Lini
Lënë
Eci
Ecën
Ecën
Ecim
Ecni
Ecin
Go
(away)
Iki
Ikën
Ikën
Ikim
Ikni
Ikin
Sleep
Put
Fall
Fle
Fle
Fle
Flemë
Flini
Flenë
Vë
Vë
Vë
Vemë
Vini
Vënë
Bie
Bie
Bie
Biem
Bini
Bien
Slept
Put
Fell
Fjeta
Fjete
Fjeti
Fjetëm
Fjetët
Fjetën
Vura
Vure
Vuri
Vumë
Vutë
Vunë
Rashë
Re
Ra
Ramë
Ratë
Ranë
Simple Past tense
Drank
Ate
Stayed
Left
Walked
Piva
Pive
Piu
Pimë
Pitë
Pinë
Hëngra
Hëngre
Hëngri
Hëngrëm
Hëngrët
Hëngrën
Ndenja
Ndenje
Ndenji
Ndenjëm
Ndenjët
Ndenjën
Lashë
Le
La
Lamë
Latë
Lanë
Eca
Ece
Eci
Ecëm
Ecët
Ecën
Went
(away)
Ika
Ike
Iku
Ikëm
Ikët
Ikën
Their participles are:
Pirë (drunk), ngrënë (eaten), ndenjur (stayed), lënë (left), ecur (walked), ikur (gone), fjetur
(slept), vënë (put), rënë (fallen)
Notes:
“Hipi” (to get on) conjugates just like “Eci” in both tenses. The participle: hipur.
“Zë” (to catch) and “Përzë” (dispatch) conjugate just like “Vë” in both tenses. The participle:
zënë and përzënë.
The verbs “di” and “dua.” (know and want)
Their past tense are “dita” and “desha,” but in spoken language we tend to use their imperfect
form for the past tense “dija” and “doja.” Just like with the verbs “kam” and “jam”
Di
Di
Di
Dimë
Dini
Dinë
Present
Dua
Do
Do
Duam
Doni
Duan
Dita
Dite
Diti
Ditëm
Ditët
Ditën
Simple Past
Desha
Deshe
Desh
Deshëm
Deshët
Deshën
Dija
Dije
Dinte
Dinim
Dinit
Dinin
Imperfect
Doja
Doje
Donte
Donim
Donit
Donin
Their participles: ditur (known sth – not sb), dashur (wanted, loved)
9
Past tenses and their usage
The Simple Past tense in Albanian corresponds to the Simple Past tense in English. We use it to
express finished actions in the past.
Ex. Ai jetoi në shtëpi me qera për 3 vjet. (He lived in a rented house for 3 years).
Imperfect
I – The form
In order to form the Imperfect of irregular verbs, you should know how to conjugate them in
the Simple Present. The “secret” is that this tense takes the root of the verb in the second
person, plural.
Ex: Unë blej – ju blini (Imperfect: Unë blija, ti blije, ai blinte, ne blinim, ju blinit, ata blinin)
The endings of the imperfect are the same for the regular and irregular verbs. Those endings
are:
First and third group:
-ja, -je, -nte, -nim, -nit, nin
Second group:
-ja, -je, -te, -nim, -nit, -nin
Here are a few irregular verbs in the Simple Present. See how they change in the second person
plural.
Unë vij – ju vini, unë mbledh – ju mblidhni, unë marr – ju merrni, unë dal – ju dilni, unë pjek –
ju piqni, unë përgatis – përgatisni, unë fle – ju flini
Now see them conjugated in the Imperfect.
Unë
Ti
Ai / ajo
Ne
Ju
Ata /
ato
1st
group
Vija
Vije
Vi-nte
Vinim
Vinit
Vinin
2nd group
Mblidhja
Mblidhje
Mblidh-te
Mblidhnim
Mblidhnit
Mblidhnin
Merrja
Merrje
Merr-te
Merrnim
Merrnit
Merrnin
Dilja
Dilje
Dil-te
dilnim
Dilnit
Dilnin
Flisja
Flisje
Flis-te
Flisnim
Flisnit
Flisnin
Piqja
Piqje
Piq-te
Piqnim
Piqnit
Piqnin
Përgatisja
Përgatisje
Përgatis-te
Përgatisnim
Përgatisnit
Përgatisnin
3rd
group
Flija
Flije
Fli-nte
Flinim
Flinit
Flinin
II – Usage
Imperfet has a wide range of usage in the Albanian language. It is used:
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1) To talk about past habits
Ai shkonte në shkollë çdo ditë. (He went to school every day).
Ai jetonte në shtëpi në qera. (He lived in a rented house).
The second example does not have time indicators, like every day, every morning, etc. It is
common to find Imperfect without time indicators. This occurs in narrations as well. Ex: Ai
jetonte në një shtëpi prej kashte. (He lived in a house made of hay). That’s probably because
the time indicator (every day) is implied.
2) To form the Past Continuous
Ai po hante akullore. (He was eating an icecream).
*Other usages:
3) After the verb “dua.” When this verb is in the Simple Past, the verb following it is in the
Imperfect.
Ex. Desha** të shkoja në kinema. (I wanted to go to the movie theatre).
4) With the structure “para se + folje” (before + verb).
Ex: Para se të vija këtu, jetoja në Francë. (Before coming here, I lived in France).
Keep in mind that with the structure number 4 you use the Imperfect if you are talking about
past experiences. If you are talking about present or future actions, “para se” is followed by a
verb in the present.
Ex. Para se të shkoj në postë, duhet të shkoj në markatë. (Before going to the post office, I
should go to the market).
* Those structures use the Imperfect of Subjunctive, distinguished by the presence of “të”
before the verb. Subjunctive is the mood which expresses the actions as wishes, possibilities,
obligations, future activities, etc.
**It is common to hear people saying “Doja të shkoja...” instead of “Desha të shkoja...”
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