niedokonanym

Niedokonanym is the instrumental singular form of the Polish adjective niedokonany, which is used in linguistic descriptions to denote imperfective or not completed action. In grammar, niedokonany contrasts with dokonany, the latter describing a completed, perfective action. The term is commonly employed in discussions of verb aspect, tense, and the way Polish encodes how an action unfolds over time.

In Polish, verbs are often paired as imperfective (niedokonany) and perfective (dokonany). The imperfective aspect emphasizes the process, repetition, or ongoing nature of an action, whereas the perfective emphasizes its result or completion. These distinctions can influence the interpretation of tense and aspects across past, present, and future contexts. The label niedokonany (and its inflected forms like niedokonanym) is thus a diagnostic tool in grammar and dictionaries, helping to categorize a verb’s aspect or to describe a non-finite form.

Morphology: niedokonanym is the instrumental singular masculine and neuter form of the adjective niedokonany. Feminine instrumental singular would be niedokonaną. This inflection allows the adjective to modify a masculine or neuter noun in instrumental case, for example in phrases that describe manner or means.

Usage: The term appears in grammar references, teaching materials, and linguistic descriptions of Polish verb systems. It is part of the broader pair niedokonany/dokonany used to analyze how speakers convey completeness, progress, or repetition of actions within sentences.

See also: dokonany, niedokonany, aspect (grammatical), Polish language grammar.