In English, what is imperfect tense?
1 Answer
Nov 12, 2016
See explanation.
Explanation:
A tense is imperfect if it is used to describe an unfinished action. In English all continuous (also called progressive) tenses are imperfect ones.
- Past Continuous
Example: John was eating breakfast when the telephone rang
An action described by was eating is unfinished so the tense is imperfect.
- Present Continuous
Example: What are you reading?
The sentence tells about an action which lasts when the words are said, so it is an imperfect tense.
- Future Continuous
Example: Tomorrow at 10.00 I will be playing tennis.
The speaker says that at the speciffic time in the future he would be in the middle of an action.
