neperfektní

Neperfektní is a term that appears in some linguistic discussions to denote a non-perfective, or imperfective, aspect of verbs. The word is formed by negating perfektní (perfect), but in this use it refers to a grammatical category rather than a moral judgment. It is most often encountered in analyses of languages that contrast a perfective versus an imperfective aspect, notably among Slavic languages. In standard Czech and Slovak grammar, the common labels for this distinction are nedokonavý (imperfective) and dokonavý (perfective); neperfektní is not widely adopted as the official term, though it occurs in a minority of scholarly writings as an alternative label for imperfective or non-terminated aspect.

Usage and interpretation: A neperfektní or imperfective form describes ongoing, habitual, repeated, or non-terminated actions. It contrasts with perfective forms that present the action as completed or viewed as a single, bounded event. In cross-linguistic theory, neperfektní is used to discuss aspect without committing to the language’s specific formal marking of imperfectivity, and many grammars simply use the terms imperfective or nedokonavý.

Notes: The term is relatively rare and not universally accepted; its precise meaning depends on the author and the language being discussed. It is primarily of interest to students of Slavic linguistics and to readers of historical or theoretical grammars. For general purposes, replacing neperfektní with imperfective or nedokonavý avoids ambiguity. See also imperfective, perfective, dokonavý, nedokonavý.