Past Habits and Background

Level 2

The imperfect presents a past action as unfolding, repeated or background activity.

How It Works

The imperfect presents a past action as unfolding, repeated or background activity.

Compare έγραφα with έγραψα. The choice is about viewpoint and discourse context; duration alone cannot decide the tense because a long event can also be presented as a whole.

GreekMeaning
Διάβαζα κάθε βράδυ.I used to read every evening.
Έγραφα όταν ήρθες.I was writing when you came.
Δουλεύαμε εδώ.We used to work here.

Examples (3)

  1. Διάβαζα κάθε βράδυ.

    I used to read every evening.

  2. Έγραφα όταν ήρθες.

    I was writing when you came.

  3. Δουλεύαμε εδώ.

    We used to work here.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Past Habits and BackgroundLevel 2

Learn This First

Recognize person endings and an ordinary finite verb before omitting its subject, negating it or adding a dependent action.