Imperfektívne

Imperfektívne, or imperfective, is a grammatical aspect used to describe actions viewed as in progress, repeated, or not viewed as completed. It is contrasted with dokonavý (perfective), which marks a completed, bounded event or outcome. The imperfective focuses on the process, duration, or repetition rather than on its termination.

In Slovak and other Slavic languages, the imperfective–perfective distinction is a central part of verb meaning. Some verbs are inherently imperfective (for example, čítať “to read,” spať “to sleep”), while many pairs exist where a perfective form is derived by prefixes or stem changes (for example, prečítať “to read through/completely,” zaspať “to fall asleep”). The imperfective aspect is compatible with various tenses; in the present tense it often expresses ongoing or habitual actions (Čítam knihu = I am reading a book or I read a book regularly). The imperfective past conveys ongoing or repeated actions in the past (Čítal som knihu = I was reading a book / I used to read a book).

The perfective counterpart signals completion or a definite endpoint (Prečítam knihu = I will read the book to the end / I will finish reading the book; Prečítal som knihu = I finished reading the book). The distinction can affect telicity and duration, influencing how events are perceived in time.

Beyond Slovak, many languages maintain imperfective versus perfective pairs (for example, Russian, Polish, Czech), using various morphological strategies to mark aspect. Imperfective communicates ongoingity, repetition, or nondirected action, while perfective emphasizes completion and result.