How an event unfolds
Is the event in progress, finished, repeated, or connected to now?
Значение
The same event can be presented as in progress, complete, repeated, or connected to now. This helps show whether we are describing an action as it unfolds, a habit, or a result that matters now. Some languages use special verb forms; others have no such forms and rely on other words or context. Past, present and future places an event in time, while How an event unfolds shows how we view it.
Как распознать
Check whether the wording shows an event as ongoing, complete, repeated, or connected to another time, rather than simply saying when it happens.
В родном языке
Imperfective verbs show an action in progress, repetition, or an action without emphasizing its endpoint; perfective verbs present an event as a whole with a boundary or result. This choice, called aspect, is separate from tense, and both types have past forms. Pairs such as писать and написать need to be learned because forming the partner is not always predictable.
Когда ты позвонил, я писала письмо. (Kogda ty pozvonil, ya pisala pis'mo.)
The imperfective verb presents the writing as in progress.
Я уже написала письмо. (Ya uzhe napisala pis'mo.)
The perfective verb presents the letter-writing as completed.
Анна каждую неделю пишет бабушке. (Anna kazhduyu nedelyu pishet babushke.)
The imperfective verb describes a regular activity.