In Pennsylvania Dutch, past tense verbs (past participles; PP) need a helper verb when speaking about the past. Most of the time, that helper verb is a form of havva (to have). However, there are some past tense words that use a form of sei (to be). Which ones?
When To Use Sei
The general rule for when to use sei (to be) is when the past tense verb is talking about a change in condition or location.
Note, what is explained here is not the same as when sei is used with adjectives that look like past tense verbs † We’re only talking about verbs that happened in the past.
Past Tense Verbs That Use Sei as the Helper Verb
To make things easier, here is a list of the most commonly used past tense verbs * that use the sei helper verb.
became = vadda
Eah is ald vadda. (He became old.)
came = kumma
Du bisht zrikk kumma. (You came back.)
died (animals) = doht-ganga
‘Sis doht-ganga. (It died.)
died (humans) = kshtauva
Eah is kshtauva. (He has died.)
fell = kfalla
Geshtah, is da bohm kfalla.
fell asleep = eikshlohfa
Si sinn eikshlohfa. (They fell asleep.)
flew = kflowwa
Deah raven is zrikk un faddi kflowwa.
grew up = ufgvaxa
Ich binn ufgvaxa in Ohio. (I grew up in Ohio.)
left = falossa
Si sinn falossa. (They left.)
ran = kshprunga
See is fatt kshprunga. (She ran away from home.)
resurrected / stood up / got up = uf kshtanna
Eah is uf kshtanna free. (He got up early.)
Da Jesus is uf kshtanna funn di dohda. (Jesus was resurrected from the dead.)
stayed = geblivva
Eah is datt geblivva. (He stayed there.)
walked = gloffa
Eah is vekk gloffa. (He walked away.)
went = ganga
Miah sinn haym ganga. (We went home.)
* Note 1: There may be other past tense verbs that also use sei as their helper verb. However, these are some of the more common ones that you might use in conversation.
† Note 2: Some adjectives are spelled like past tense verbs and may use a form of sei or vadda. Don’t get these adjectives confused with past tense verbs. They’re not the same.