Clarification - perfective vs. imperfective

Discussion in 'Grammar & Pronunciation' started by rasta1979, Mar 30, 2004.

  1. rasta1979

    rasta1979 Member

    In this sentence:
    Abyste se mohl vratit do Ameriky, musite udelat nekolik veci,

    wouldn't the "udelat" be imperfective instead of perfective. Would it make more sense to say:

    Abyste se mohl vratit do Ameriky, musite delat nekolik veci?

    What is the difference between these two sentences, and is the 2nd sentence more correct?
    Thanks
    Shane
     
  2. Sova

    Sova Well-Known Member

    Since you have used the perfective "vrátit se," you should use the perfective "udĕlat." Both emphasize completed action to be performed once, i.e. you must do (and finish) several things before you can return to America. If this were a habitual returning, you could have used "vracet se" and "dĕlat."
     
  3. rasta1979

    rasta1979 Member

    So it would be better to say,

    Abyste se mohl vracet do Ameriky, musite delat nekolik veci.

    or

    Abyste se mohl vratit do Ameriky, musite udelat nekolik veci.

    Would both of these be correct?

    Diky moc.
     
  4. Dana

    Dana Well-Known Member

    Yes, they are both grammatically correct but have different meanings. The first sentence means "In order for you to be able to keep returning to America, you must keep doing several things" - you never finish either action. The second sentence means "In order for you to be able to return to America, you must do several things" - here, both are one-time actions.

    You don't necessarily have to use the same aspect in both parts of the sentence. It depends on what you're trying to say. E.g. you can say:

    "Abyste se mohl vracet do Ameriky, musíte udělat několik věcí" - In order for you to be able to keep returning to America (repeatedly), you must do several things (do them once, complete them).

    Or even:

    "Abyste se mohl vrátit do Ameriky, musíte dělat několik věcí" - In order for you to be able to return to America (return there for good at some point in the future), you must keep doing several things (you must keep doing them until you become able to return).
     
  5. racoon

    racoon Active Member

    "In order for you to be able to return to America, you must do several things" - and one of those things is to buy bottle of Fernet Stock for racoon otherwise you are not able to return to America.
     

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