Imperfectum

Imperfectum is the term used in some languages for the imperfect tense, or the imperfective past, describing actions or states in the past that were ongoing, habitual, or not viewed as completed. It contrasts with completed past tenses, such as the perfect.

In Latin, the imperfect tense is formed with the suffix -ba- and standard personal endings: amābam, amābāmus; amābās, amābātis; amābat, amābant.

In Romance languages, the imperfect is expressed with distinct endings that signal ongoing or habitual past action. Spanish uses -aba for -ar verbs (hablaba) and -ía for -er/-ir verbs (comía). French relies on endings like -ais (parlais, finissais). Italian uses -avo/-ivo forms (parlavo, dormivo). Portuguese uses -ava and related patterns (falava, vivíamos).

Other languages also have imperfect forms or aspectual contrasts. Dutch primarily marks past actions with the simple past (imperfect past in some descriptions), while German typically uses the Präteritum (Imperfekt) forms such as machte or ging to express the same idea of a past, ongoing narrative background.

Usage and function commonly include describing ongoing or repeated past actions, setting scenes, indicating background information, or signaling habitual past behavior. The imperfect is often contrasted with the perfect or preterite, which view past actions as completed or resulting in present relevance.

Etymology and scope: the term imperfectum derives from Latin for “unfinished,” reflecting its role in indicating incomplete or non-terminated past activity. In many languages, the imperfect remains a core component of past tense systems and narrative style. See also aspect and tense in grammar.