![]() MORE IN DEPTHįirst, let us see what "perfect" and "imperfect" actually mean. ![]() The term "on-going action" being often used to describe the imperfect, some students misinterpret it as meaning that it is an action continuing into the present. Definitely, the fundamental distinction between the two tenses is not about duration. The perfect is quite often found to describe actions that lasted for one second, but also for hours, days, years, centuries. So you'd better discard this idea of duration altogether, because it is bound to mislead you. Well, since the imperfect is used to describe a "background" action (something that was happening/was the case (when.)), it may be that, statistically, you'll find the imperfect more often in actions that lasted for a relatively long time than in actions that lasted for only one second, but the fundamental nature, the fundamental meaning of the tense, is not about duration. Some think that the imperfect is always used for an action that lasted a long time, and the perfect always for an action that lasted a short time. Which means that the English preterite can translate to the Latin imperfect as well as to the perfect, depending on context and this is where things get more complicated, and where I will need to give more complex explanations to try and give you as best an idea as possible of the fundamental difference between the two tenses.īut first, let me mention: A COUPLE OF FREQUENT MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE TWO TENSES The Latin imperfect is also found in some situations where the English preterite is used. The exact same distinction is not found in English. But the thing is that, in spite of the above basic guidelines and approximate equivalences, there is no one-to-one equivalence between the Latin perfect and imperfect and English tenses. In such situations where in English you could say "At that time, I used to do this" or "Back in the day, I would regularly do this", you will usually find the imperfect in Latin. You can feel confident that the English past continuous will generally translate to the imperfect in Latin.Ģ) A certain point of a period during which the action was regularly, habitually repeated. This use is often more or less equivalent to the English past continuous, "I was doing this". The imperfect is used when you are talking about:ġ) A certain point during an on-going action in the past. In the second case, it corresponds to many situations in which the English preterite is used: "I did this (once in the past)". In the first case, it corresponds to the English present perfect: "I have done this" = "It is now done". This action can either still have a more or less tangible result in the present, or not. The perfect is used for an action that you consider in its entirety, as one block, from its beginning to its end (or, if you don't really "see" the end, you at least "see" the beginning - as in an action that started just then). ![]() The perfect and the imperfect are both past tenses: they are used to describe actions that took place in the past. A FEW VERY BASIC AND IMPERFECT (I DIDN'T WANT THE PUN, BUT WHAT OTHER WORD TO USE?) GUIDELINES I will do my best, and I apologize if I fail to be altogether clear on one point or another. So I thought it might be a good idea to apply myself once and for all to write as good and complete an explanation as I could, and to make it a sticky thread which people with questions on the subject could be redirected to. The difference is also difficult to explain, even for someone (like me) whose native language has the same distinction. As a result, questions on the subject regularly come up on the forum. ![]() Fully grasping the difference between perfect and imperfect is often difficult for students whose native language (like English) doesn't have the same distinction. ![]()
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