zahajoval

Zahajoval is a Czech verb form meaning “was opening” or “started” in the imperfective aspect. It is the third-person singular masculine past tense of the verb zahajovat, which denotes the act of beginning or opening something. The infinitive is zahajovat; the perfective counterpart is zahájit. The difference between aspect is that zahajovat describes an ongoing or repeated action in the past, while zahájit refers to a completed act of starting.

Etymology and form: The verb zahajovat is built with the prefix za- attached to a base verb, forming an imperfective meaning to begin or inaugurate. The exact historical derivation is part of standard Czech etymology, but for practical use the important point is that zahajovat expresses an ongoing or general sense of starting, contrasted with its perfective counterpart zahájit.

Usage: Zahajoval is used in neutral or formal prose to report the act of opening an event, meeting, ceremony, competition, or discussion, where the subject is masculine and singular. It appears in news reports, minutes, or narrative descriptions of events. In present or other tenses, related forms include zahajuji (I open), zahájíš (you open), zahajuje (he/she/it opens).

Examples: Prezident zahajoval konferenci. Předseda zahajoval zasedání. Moderátor zahajoval diskusi.

See also: zahájit, zahájení, zahajování.