Perfective Does Not Always Mean Success

Level 4

Perfective aspect presents an event as a whole without guaranteeing a successful intended result.

How It Works

Perfective aspect presents an event as a whole without guaranteeing a successful intended result.

A context can explicitly deny success or summarize a bounded period of activity. The verb's lexical meaning and its objects matter as well as grammatical aspect.

GreekMeaning
Προσπάθησα, αλλά δεν τα κατάφερα.I tried, but I did not succeed.
Δούλεψα τρεις ώρες.I worked for three hours.
Τον περίμενα, αλλά δεν ήρθε.I waited for him, but he did not come.

Examples (3)

  1. Προσπάθησα, αλλά δεν τα κατάφερα.

    I tried, but I did not succeed.

  2. Δούλεψα τρεις ώρες.

    I worked for three hours.

  3. Τον περίμενα, αλλά δεν ήρθε.

    I waited for him, but he did not come.

How It Connects

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

Perfective Does Not Always Mean SuccessLevel 4

Learn This First

Distinguish a whole-event view from an unfolding or habitual view before choosing the form in this construction.