---
title: imperfect — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «imperfect» in the school dictionary: Having faults or mistakes; not perfect. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# imperfect

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** imperfect tense, past actions, I, vase, Nobody, we · **What happens:** have, describe, go on, happen, read, be · **To what, where:** faults, English, half price, it, people, imperfect tense · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«imperfect» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [imperfect in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/imperfect.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Having faults or mistakes; not perfect.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imperfect:m1:1
# text = Having faults or mistakes; not perfect.
1	Having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	faults	fault	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	perfect	perfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | gerund |  | faults or mistakes |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fault=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: grammar — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The imperfect tense describes past actions that were going on or happened often, as in French and Spanish, or «I was reading» in English.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imperfect:m2:1
# text = The imperfect tense describes past actions that were going on or happened often, as in French and Spanish, or «I was reading» in English.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	imperfect	imperfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tense	tense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	past	past	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	actions	action	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	ccomp	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	Spanish	Spanish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
22	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
24	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	25	aux	_	_
25	reading	read	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	_
27	in	in	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
28	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	25	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | the imperfect tense |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **go on** | past · progressive | past actions |  |  |  |  | as French | vn function-105.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **happen** | past | past actions *not said here* |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **read** *in a quote* | past · progressive | I |  |  | English |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vase is slightly imperfect, so it was half price.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imperfect:x1:1
# text = The vase is slightly imperfect, so it was half price.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vase	vase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	slightly	slightly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	imperfect	imperfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	half	half	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	11	amod	_	_
11	price	price	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the vase |  |  |  |  | imperfect, slightly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | vase | half price |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nobody is perfect; we are all imperfect.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imperfect:x2:1
# text = Nobody is perfect; we are all imperfect.
1	Nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	perfect	perfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	all	all	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	imperfect	imperfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Nobody |  |  |  |  | perfect *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | we |  |  |  |  | all, imperfect *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her English is imperfect, but she speaks it bravely.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imperfect:x3:1
# text = Her English is imperfect, but she speaks it bravely.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	imperfect	imperfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	speaks	speak	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	bravely	bravely	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Her English |  |  |  |  | imperfect *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | English | it |  |  |  | bravely *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe that God loves people even though they are imperfect.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imperfect:x4:1
# text = Christians believe that God loves people even though they are imperfect.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	loves	love	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	even	even	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
8	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	imperfect	imperfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Christians |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **love** | present | God | people |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer people=Stimulus |
| 3 | **is** | present | Christians *= christian* |  |  |  |  | imperfect *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In French lessons we learned the imperfect tense.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imperfect:x5:1
# text = In French lessons we learned the imperfect tense.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	lessons	lesson	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	imperfect	imperfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	tense	tense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | we | the imperfect tense |  | French lessons |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tense=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plan was imperfect, but it worked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imperfect:x6:1
# text = The plan was imperfect, but it worked.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	imperfect	imperfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the plan |  |  |  |  | imperfect *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | past | plan |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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