Understanding Bulgarian Verb Aspects
In Bulgarian, verbs can show us if an action is finished or not. This is called 'aspect'. There are two main kinds of aspects in Bulgarian: the perfective and the imperfective.
Important Points
- Perfective Aspect
- Imperfective Aspect
The perfective aspect is used when we talk about actions that are complete. It shows that something has been done and finished.
Examples
- Той написа писмото.
- Аз изядох ябълката.
- Тя прочете книгата.
The imperfective aspect is used when we talk about actions that are not complete yet, or actions that happen regularly or habitually.
Examples
- Той пишеше писмо.
- Аз ядях ябълка.
- Тя четеше книга.
How to Tell the Difference
To know if a verb is perfective or imperfective, we look at the verb form. Sometimes, the verb changes completely, and other times it just adds a prefix or suffix.
Important Points
- Perfective verbs often have different forms than their imperfective counterparts.
- Imperfective verbs can often be used with words that show time, like 'always', 'often', or 'every day'.
Examples
- Той винаги пише писма.
- Аз често ям ябълки.
- Тя всеки ден чете книги.
The best way to learn these aspects is to listen and practice. Try making your own sentences and see if you can tell if the action is finished or not.