Imperfect Tense
Ongoing or repeated action in the past
The imperfect tense describes continuous, repeated, or habitual action in the past.
It's like a video of the past rather than a snapshot.
Uses of the imperfect:
• Continuous past: "I was writing" (ongoing)
• Repeated past: "I used to write" (habitual)
• Attempted action: "I was trying to persuade" (conative)
• Background description: setting the scene in narrative
Formation: augment (ἐ-) + present stem + secondary endings
• ἔγραφον (I was writing) vs. γράφω (I write)
The imperfect only exists in the indicative mood.
Examples from Texts
Here are some words showing the imperfect tense in actual Greek texts:
δύνατ'
δύναμαι
to be able, strong enough
verb
singular
imperfect
middle/passive
indicative
συνεπέστρεφον
συνεπιστρέφω
turn at the same time
verb
singular
imperfect
active
indicative
φρούρουν
φρουρέω
keep watch
verb
plural
imperfect
active
indicative
παρενέφαινον
παρά-ἐμφαίνω
exhibit, display in
verb
plural
imperfect
active
indicative
ὑπέλυεν
ὑπολύω
loosen beneath
verb
singular
imperfect
active
indicative
κεῦθον
κεύθω
cover, hide
verb
singular
imperfect
active
indicative
κλῇζον
κλῄζω2
shut
verb
plural
imperfect
active
indicative
ὠφελῆσθε
ὠφελέω
help, aid, succour
verb
plural
imperfect
middle/passive
indicative