1. Latin Grammar The Use of the Imperfect Tense (Grammar 4A, pp. 194-96)

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.

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.

4. Aspect  Here’s an example of aspect in English. I ran I was running

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.

6. Perfect Actions PRESENT PAST mīles scolasticōs pipere sparsit.

7. Imperfect Tense

8. Imperfect Actions PAST PRESENT mīles scolasticōs pipere spargēbat. PAST

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, that’s why it is formed using the first principal part of verbs, the present.

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.

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.

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 cēnābam. 2. An action was repeated. I ate dinner always at 6 = duodecimā hōrā semper cēnābam. 3. A verb indicates that a state of being occurred. I believed you = tibi crēdēbam

13. Translating  Actions that are ongoing at some fixed time in the past in English are indicated by the past progressive. tum cēnābam = I was eating then..

14. Translating  Repeated action in English in the past is indicated by the simple past or “used to.” duodecimā hōrā semper cēnābam = I always ate at 6 o’clock. = I always used to eat at 6 o’clock.

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 crēdēbam = I believed you.

16. Translating  Finally, do note that the perfect in Latin implies that an action came to its natural conclusion.  The imperfect does not. portam aperuī portam aperiēbam = I was opening the gate (but failed) = I began to open the gate = I tried to open the gate