A GRAMMAR OF CZECH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE Karel Tahal

Karel Tahal: A Grammar of Czech as a Foreign Language
The aspect difference between the “present forms“ can be seen in the following sentences,
where the imperfective verb (nedokonavé sloveso) in sentences
(a) has a present reference, i.e. it indicates topical activities or also habitual activities,
whereas the “present form“ of the perfective verb (dokonavé sloveso) in sentences
(b) has a future reference.
Future activities can as well be expressed by means of the construction “budu + the infinitive
of the imperfective verb (nedokonavé sloveso) “ – sentences (c).
There is only a slight semantic difference between sentences (b) and (c).
Both of them refer to the future,
the (b) construction expressing the intended activities,
the (c) construction with a stronger or weaker stress on the duration.
1a imperf. Píšu odpověď. I am writing the answer. present
I write the answer.
1b perf. Napíšu odpověď. I will write the answer. future
1c imperf. Budu psát odpověď. - “ - future
2a imperf. Otvírám okno. I am opening the window. present
I open the window.
2b perf. Otevřu okno. I will open the window. future
2c imperf. Budu otvírat okno. - “ - future
3a imperf. Čekáme v hotelu. We are waiting in the hotel. present
We wait in the hotel.
3b perf. Počkáme v hotelu. We will be waiting in the hotel. future
3c imperf. Budeme čekat v hotelu. - “ - future
4a imperf. Začínáme pracovat. We are starting to work. present
We start to work.
4b perf. Začneme pracovat. We´ll start to work. future
4c imperf. Budeme začínat pracovat. - “ - future
REMEMBER:
NEVER USE THE AUXULIARY BUDU WITH THE PERFECTIVE VERB (DOKONAVÉ SLOVESO) !
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