abstract verb

English

Noun

abstract verb (plural abstract verbs)

2. (deprecated template usage) (Slavic grammar) A verb of motion whose motion is multidirectional (as opposed to unidirectional) or indirect, or whose action is repeated or in a series (iterative), instead of being a single, completed action. Abstract verbs are always imperfective in aspect, even with prefixes that are normally associated with the perfective aspect.

   (abstract) I went to the post office. (there and back, multidirectional)

   (concrete) I went to the post office. (and am there now, unidirectional)

   (abstract) I went to the theater and had an accident. (the event occurred during the trip there and back)

   (concrete) I went to the theater and had an accident. (the event occurred at the theater)

   (abstract) I like to fly. (repeated action) Polish example: Lubię latać. (infinitive: latać)

   (concrete) I flew to Frankfurt. (a single, completed action) Polish example: Poleciałem do Frankfurtu. (infinitive: (po)lecieć)

   (abstract) Polish: Czytuję gazety. I read newspapers. (repeated action) (infinitive: czytywać)

   (concrete) Polish: Czytam gazety. I read newspapers. (now, maybe repeated action, but not necessary) (infinitive: czytać)

   (abstract) Polish: Pisuję wiersze. I write poems. (repeated action, possible long intervals between actions) (infinitive: pisywać)

   (concrete) Polish: Piszę wiersze. I write poems. (now, short intervals between actions) (infinitive: pisać)

Synonyms

• indefinite verb
• potential verb

Antonyms

• concrete verb
• definite verb

Translations

type of verb

• Russian: разнонаправленный глагол m (raznonaprávlennyj glagól), абстрактный глагол m (abstráktnyj glagól)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}