Language/Slovak/Grammar/The-Imperfective-and-Perfective

Slovak Grammar → → The Imperfective and Perfective

As a Slovak language teacher, I have often found that students struggle with understanding the two aspects of Slovak verbs: the imperfective and perfective. However, once these concepts are grasped, they can greatly improve your Slovak language skills. In this lesson, we will explore these two aspects in depth and learn when to use them.

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Adjectives & The Locative Case.

Understanding Verbal Aspects

First, it is important to understand what we mean by "verbal aspect." An aspect refers to how the verb action is viewed in relation to time, rather than to the actual time itself. In Slovak, we use two aspects: the imperfective and perfective.

The imperfective aspect refers to ongoing, incomplete or habitual actions. It does not specify whether the action is completed or not. Think of it as a struggle or a process of a verb.

On the other hand, the perfective aspect refers to completed, finished or single actions. Think of it as a perfect finished process, without any complications.

Examples of Verbal Aspects

Let's explore some examples to better understand the two aspects of Slovak verbs:

Imperfective

The Slovak verb "čítať," or "to read," is an example of the imperfective aspect. It refers to ongoing or incomplete reading, such as "reading a book" or "reading newspapers."

Here is a table to help you understand the usage:

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
čítam	CHI-tam	I am reading
čítajú	CHI-ta-yu	They are reading
čítame	CHI-ta-me	We are reading

Other examples of imperfective verbs in Slovak are:

• hovoriť (to talk)
• jesť (to eat)
• pozerať sa (to look)

Perfective

The Slovak verb "prečítať," or "to read through," is an example of the perfective aspect. It refers to a completed or finished action, such as "having read a book" or "having read newspapers."

Here is a table to help you understand the usage:

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
prečítal som	preh-CHI-tal som	I have read through
prečítali sme	preh-CHI-ta-li sme	We have read through
prečítali ste	preh-CHI-ta-li ste	You (plural) have read through

Other examples of perfective verbs in Slovak are:

• zjesť (to eat up)
• rozpovedať (to tell completely)
• pozrieť sa (to completely look / watched thoroughly)

When to Use Imperfective and Perfective

The usage of verbal aspects can be tricky at first, but with practice you will begin to distinguish between the two more easily. Here are some quick tips on when to use the imperfective and perfective:

Imperfective

• ongoing or incomplete actions
• habitual actions
• repeated actions
• duration of an action
• imperatives

Here are some examples:

• Čítam knihu. (I am reading a book.) - ongoing action
• Každý deň cvičím. (I exercise every day.) - habitual action
• Chodieval som cez most každý deň. (I used to walk across the bridge every day.) - repeated past action
• Piatok trvá tri dni. (Friday lasts for three days.) - duration of the action
• Čítaj knihu! (Read the book!) - imperative for an ongoing action

Perfective

• complete, finished or single actions
• completed actions
• the beginning or end of a process/action
• expressing new information

Here are some examples:

• Prečítal som knihu. (I have finished reading a book.) - completed action
• Zjedol som koláčik. (I have eaten a small cake.) - completed single action
• Začal som písať knihu. (I have started writing a book.) - the beginning of the process
• Dokončil som písanie knihy. (I have finished writing my book.) - the end of the process
• Kúpil som si nový mobil. (I have bought a new phone. )- expressing new information

Conclusion

By understanding the imperfective and perfective aspects of Slovak verbs, you will be better equipped to speak the language with accuracy and fluency. It may take time and practice to master, but with determination and perseverance you will be on your way to becoming a proficient speaker of Slovak. Remember to use the correct aspect depending on the context and meaning you want to convey.

Practice the examples above and you will find that, with practice, you will master these two complexities of Slovak language learning.

Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: How to Use Have & Negation.

Table of Contents - Slovak Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Unit 1: Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introductions
• Nationalities and Languages

  ---

Unit 2: Nouns, Pronouns, and Verbs in the Present Tense

• Nouns and Pronouns
• The Present Tense of Regular Verbs
• The Verbs 'To Be' and 'To Have'
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Unit 3: Slovak Culture and Society

• Slovak History
• Slovak Traditions and Customs
• Slovak Food and Drink

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Unit 4: Daily Activities and Routine

• Daily Routine
• Free Time
• Chores and Errands

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Unit 5: Cases and Prepositions

• The Genitive Case
• The Locative Case
• Prepositions

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Unit 6: Slovak Geography and Nature

• Regions of Slovakia
• Slovak Nature
• Slovak Folk Tales and Legends

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Unit 7: Travel and Transportation

• Transportation
• Travel and Accommodation
• Directions

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Unit 8: Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
• The Imperfective and Perfective

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Unit 9: Slovak Art and Music

• Slovak Art
• Slovak Music
• Slovak Film and Literature

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Unit 10: Time and Dates

• Telling Time
• Days of the Week and Months of the Year
• Holidays and Celebrations

Other Lessons

• Adjectives
• Questions
• Nouns and Pronouns
• Basic Sentence Structure
• Plurals
• The Present Tense of Regular Verbs
• The Genitive Case
• How to Use Have
• The Locative Case

Sources

• Slovak perfective and imperfective verbs | coLanguage
• Slovak - Imperfective/Perfective Verb Pairs Flashcards | Quizlet