I put this in the general discussion section but then realised it's probably better here: Does anybody have a clear explanation of the Czech verbal aspects? I know the basic descritption about perfective being a one time thing and not used in the present and imperfective being more continuous but I still find that I often don't understand why a native speaker uses a certain aspect. Is the Czech imperfective in the past used the same as the past continuous in English and perferctive like the past simple? I'd be really grateful for any help with this, I think it's the most difficult thing to master for a foreigner.
just a few examples: šel jsem přes ulici (a něco se v té době stalo) = I was crossing the street (and something happened at the same time) (imperfective) přešel jsem ulici = I crossed the street (perfective, finished action) četl jsem knihu = I was reading a book (imperfective) přečetl jsem knihu (za dva dny) = I managed to read the book in two days (perfective, finished action in the past) čtu knihu = I am reading a book(present, imperfective) přečtu knihu za dva dny = I will finsh reading the book in two days (same form, but using perfective verb means future) budu číst knihu = I am going to read the book (imperfective, future) budu přečíst = nonsens
Thanks The main problem I have with this distinction is that perfective forms are sometimes used with (for me in English) a present meaning. For example - To se stane/stane se to = It will happen, but also when Czechs want to say 'it happens' they use this form too. Rekne and rika also provide similar problems for me because I sometimes hear rekne when in my mind it should be rika. Anybody know what I'm talking about?!
I, too, do not completely grasp why sometimes one tense is used instead of another, but following the basic rule(when I manage to do that) seems pretty safe. stavat se......something is happening stane se......something will happen Can you give examples of some of those questionable uses of the tenses in sentences?
The main one is the one I said - to se stane = it happens, also it will happen. I hear this a lot and they are not refering to the future only but sometimes about how things happen in general. Maybe it's just slang and to se stava is the only real version for the present. Also - Vzdycky na to zapomenu Porad to rekne I've heard these sentences with a presnt simple meaning- I always forget it, He always says it. I know you can use the forms zapomina and rika instead which are also right but is there a difference in meaning when I use the perfective form with a general every day meaning? I always have a feeling that it's slang and not correct Czech. I hope so anyway cuz it's really confusing otherwise.
Hmmm..Hribicek..I would maybe say this(keep in mind I'm just leaning the language too) We can do that in english too. He always says....he will always say...pretty much can mean the same thing I always forget...I'll always forget(something)(or to do something).. Až odejdu pořád zapomenu zamknout dveře. When I go out, I always(will always) forget to lock the door.
Yeah that's a good point. I'd thought about that possibility, but I've never heard anybody say that they do that in Czech. I'd be grateful if a Czech could confirm that this is the explanation and that it isn't a change in meaning. Having now read Wicker's website about aspect I feel a lot better about it anyway, a lot of new insights for me. I recommend it if you are having a similar problem to me with the finer points of the aspect. While I'm here, I have some more questions! What is the difference between these words- Vzpouzet se/Odmitnout Klusat/Cvalat prastit/uhodit/bit Can't remember the other one I wanted to know. Thanks
vždycky říká = he always says vždycky řekne = he will always say vždycky zapomínám = I always forget vždycky zapomenu = I'll always forget Scrimshaw is right, basically it means the same thing, perhaps due to the adverb vždycky (always). The difference is very subtle. You must keep in mind that the adverbs sometimes have an influence on the tenses. Example: Zítra nejdu do školy. = Tomorrow I don't go to school. nejdu is in the present tense, but it expresses the future due to the adverb zítra (tomorrow) using the future tense the meaning is exactly the same: Zítra nepůjdu do školy. = Tomorrow I won't go to school.
It is not correct. The adverbs pořád, stále, neustále (constantly, continually) require the imperfective aspect. Pořád/stále to říká. Pořád/stále zapomínám zamykat dveře. With the perfective verbs use the adverb vždy, vždycky, pokaždé! Vždycky to řekne. = He will always say it. Pokaždé zapomenu zamknout dveře. = I will always forget to lock the door. ---------------------------------------- The Czechlands is the official shortened name of the Czech Republic. ;-)
Troll, Thanks for that clarification about the adverbs. I wasn't aware of that. Vždycky .....takes the future tense pořád,stále,neustále...take the imperfective That is useful. Vždycky ti řeknu pravdu. Neustále mluví ve vyučování a to zlobí učitelku.
vždycky (= always) is universal Vždycky ti řeknu pravdu. Vždycky ti budu říkat pravdu. Vždycky ti říkám pravdu. Vždycky jsem ti řekl pravdu. Vždycky jsem ti říkal pravdu. but Pořád ti budu říkat pravdu. Pořád ti říkám pravdu. Pořád jsem ti říkal pravdu. (only the imperfective)
It's Cechy and is declined as feminine plural. It really means Bohemia but Czechs in Bohemia usually say it instead of Ceska Republika.
vzpouzet se (imp.) = ? (mainly about horses, about persons it is somewhat expressive) odmítat (imp.), odmítnout (perf.) = to refuse, to reject klusat (imp.) = to jog, to canter (about persons or horses) cválat (imp.) = to canter, to trot (about horses only) uhodit, praštit (perf.) = to hit, to bump (praštit is more expressive) bít (imp.) = to beat Kůň se vzpouzel, když jsem jej chtěl osedlat. Chlapeček se vzpouzel, když mu oblékali námořnický obleček. Koně klusali, cválali. (there is some difference, but I am no horse expert) Uhodil mě do nosu. = Praštil mě do nosu. Neustále mě bil.
To je hezká historka! Nové slovesa. Vzpouzel se koně...the horse reared up(we might say he bucked(threw up his rear legs, tried to throw me off).., kdy jsem se jej snažil rajtovat. (this verb needs to be a perfective, but I don't know it.) or Vzpínal se, když jsem se jej snažil rajtovat. Skákal na čtyřech a téměř mě odhodil, ale nějak jsem zvládl vytrvat. Chlapečce se nelíbí námořnický obleček a vzpouzel se když mu do něj zkoušili obleknout. In this sense...objected, threw a fit?
Kůň se vzpouzel, když jsem se na něm snažil rajtovat. Vzpínal se (perf. vzepjal se), když jsem se na něm snažil rajtovat. Skákal na čtyřech a téměř mě shodil, ale nějak jsem zvládl vytrvat. Chlapečkovi se nelíbil námořnický obleček a vzpouzel se, když ho do něho zkoušeli obléknout (když se snažili mu jej obléknout). vzpouzel se = objected, but more physically (he wriggled and swirmed like a worm)
I'm learning as much about English here as I am about Czech! When you translated "zítra nejdu do školy" as "tomorrow I don't go to school", I think what we would actually say (I know I would) is "I'm not going to school tomorrow" ie present tense.
Unless it is Friday and there is no school on Saturday - "I go to school five days a week, Monday thriugh Friday but, tomorrow is Saturday so, tomorrow I don't go to school".