atsakiau

Atsakiau is the first-person singular past tense form of the Lithuanian verb atsakyti, meaning to answer or to reply. The form denotes a completed action in the past and is used when the speaker states that they answered something.

Etymology and form: Atsakyti is built from the root sak- (to say) with the prefix at-, which is common in Lithuanian to mark completion or direction. Atsakiau shares the same root with related forms such as atsakei (you answered) and atsakė (he or she answered), which together constitute the full past-tense paradigm for this verb.

Usage: Atsakiau is used in narrative and direct reporting of past events from a first-person perspective. It commonly appears with objects or phrases indicating what was answered, for example, atsakiau į klausimą (I answered the question) or atsakiau į laišką (I answered the letter). It can also occur in more complex sentences describing responses given in conversations, interviews, or exams.

Examples:

- Aš atsakiau į klausimą per kelias sekundes. (I answered the question in a few seconds.)

- Ji atsakiau, kad padės rytoj. (She said that she would help tomorrow. Note: this sentence would more naturally be "Ji atsakė," but the example shows the form’s use in past narration.)

See also: atsakyti, atsakymas, atsakymas į klausimą. These related terms cover the base verb, the noun form, and common phrases involving answering or replying.