Latin Grammar The Use of the Imperfect Tense (Grammar 4A, pp.
194-96)
Slide 2
Aspect We now are learning the imperfect tense. It is the
second past tense we have learned in Latin. Some time ago we
learned the perfect. To understand the difference between the
perfect and imperfect tense, we need to discuss aspect.
Slide 3
Aspect The difference between the imperfect tense and the
perfect tense is not one of time. It is one of aspect, that is the
way the action of the verb is portrayed.
Slide 4
Aspect Heres an example of aspect in English. I ran I was
running
Slide 5
Imperfect and Perfect In Latin, actions in the past can be
presented as perfect or imperfect actions. Perfect actions are
presented as complete. Imperfect actions are presented as
incomplete.
Slide 6
Perfect Actions PRESENT PAST mles scolastics pipere
sparsit.
Slide 7
Imperfect Tense
Slide 8
Imperfect Actions PAST PRESENT mles scolastics pipere spargbat.
PAST
Slide 9
Imperfect Actions The imperfect presents actions in the past as
if they were being witnessed by a contemporary observer. The
imperfect is the projection onto the past of a present perspective.
By the way, thats why it is formed using the first principal part
of verbs, the present.
Slide 10
Translating There are three ways a verb can indicate present
action. 1. An action is going on right now. I am eating dinner now.
2. An action is repeated. I always eat dinner at 6. 3. A verb
indicates a state. I believe you.
Slide 11
Translating That means that an verb in the imperfect can have
three interpretations. 1. An action was going on at that time. I
was eating dinner then. 2. An action was repeated. I always ate
dinner at 6. 3. A verb indicates that a state of being occurred. I
believed you.
Slide 12
Translating All these are expressed by the imperfect in Latin
1. An action was going on at that time. I was eating dinner then =
tum cnbam. 2. An action was repeated. I ate dinner always at 6 =
duodecim hr semper cnbam. 3. A verb indicates that a state of being
occurred. I believed you = tibi crdbam
Slide 13
Translating Actions that are ongoing at some fixed time in the
past in English are indicated by the past progressive. tum cnbam =
I was eating then..
Slide 14
Translating Repeated action in English in the past is indicated
by the simple past or used to. duodecim hr semper cnbam = I always
ate at 6 oclock. = I always used to eat at 6 oclock.
Slide 15
Translating States in English tend to be in the simple past. In
Latin, because they are thought of as being in process, they
usually are in the imperfect. tibi crdbam = I believed you.
Slide 16
Translating Finally, do note that the perfect in Latin implies
that an action came to its natural conclusion. The imperfect does
not. portam aperu portam aperibam = I was opening the gate (but
failed) = I began to open the gate = I tried to open the gate