Preterite vs. Imperfect

Preteriteadjective

showing an action at a determined moment in the past.

Preteriteadjective

Belonging wholly to the past; passed by.

Preteritenoun

(grammar) A grammatical tense or verb form serving to denote events that took place or were completed in the past.

Preteriteadjective

Same as Preterit.

Preteritenoun

a term formerly used to refer to the simple past tense

Preterite

The preterite or preterit (; abbreviated PRET or PRT) is a grammatical tense or verb form serving to denote events that took place or were completed in the past. In general, it combines the perfective aspect (event viewed as a single whole; it is not to be confused with the similarly named perfect) with the past tense, and may thus also be termed the perfective past.

Imperfectadjective

not perfect

Imperfectadjective

(botany) unisexual: having either male (with stamens) or female (with pistil) flowers, but not with both.

Imperfectadjective

(taxonomy) known or expected to be polyphyletic, as of a form taxon.

Imperfectadjective

(obsolete) lacking some elementary organ that is essential to successful or normal activity.

Imperfectadjective

(grammar) belonging to a tense of verbs used in describing a past action that is incomplete or continuous

Imperfectnoun

something having a minor flaw

Imperfectnoun

(grammar) a tense of verbs used in describing a past action that is incomplete or continuous

Imperfectverb

(transitive) to make imperfect

Imperfectadjective

Not perfect; not complete in all its parts; wanting a part; deective; deficient.

Imperfectadjective

Wanting in some elementary organ that is essential to successful or normal activity.

Imperfectadjective

Not fulfilling its design; not realizing an ideal; not conformed to a standard or rule; not satisfying the taste or conscience; esthetically or morally defective.

Imperfectnoun

The imperfect tense; or the form of a verb denoting the imperfect tense.

Imperfectverb

To make imperfect.

Imperfectnoun

a tense of verbs used in describing action that is on-going

Imperfectadjective

not perfect; defective or inadequate;

Imperfectadjective

having the attributes of man as opposed to e.g. divine beings;

Imperfect

The imperfect (abbreviated IMPERF) is a verb form that combines past tense (reference to a past time) and imperfective aspect (reference to a continuing or repeated event or state). It can have meanings similar to the English or It contrasts with preterite forms, which refer to a single completed event in the past.