This grammar shows that an action is finished. It tells you something has been completed.
Verb [stem] + たりPrimary
This grammar shows that an action is finished. It tells you something has been completed.
山に雪の降り積もりたり。
Snow has piled up on the mountain (and remains so).
名をば業平と言ひたり。
He was called Narihira.
門に立てたる武士は、いづれの殿上人か。
Which court noble is the warrior standing at the gate?
その時、日は既に暮れたりき。
At that time, the sun had already set.
This word can show two things. It can mean something just finished. Or it can mean something is now in a certain state. Think of it like a light switch. It can show the light just turned on. Or it can show the light is now on.
This is different from "き" and "けり". "き" means you saw something happen in the past. "けり" means you heard about it or just found out. "たり" just says an action is finished or a state continues.
Don't use this when you want to say something did not happen. For example, you wouldn't say "食べたり" to mean "didn't eat." This word comes from an older way of speaking. It shows an action is finished or a state is ongoing.
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