imperfect
/ɪmˈpɜ:fɪkt; ɪm`pəfɪkt/ adj
1 faulty or defective; not perfect 有缺点的; 有瑕疵的; 残缺的; 不完美的: an imperfect copy 残本
imperfect knowledge, understanding, etc of sth 对某事物的不完备的知识、 不透彻的理解等.
2 [attrib 作定语]
(grammar) of the verb tense that expresses incomplete action in the past (more usually called continuous or progressive) 动词的过去未完成时态（通常多称过去进行时态）
the imperfect tenses in French 法语的过去未完成时态. imperfect, n the imperfect [sing]
(grammar) (verb in the) tense that expresses incomplete action in the past; continuous aspect （表示过去未完成行为的）过去未完成时态（的动词）; 进行体
`I was speaking' is in the imperfect. `I was speaking'是过去未完成时态.