English

Noun

abstract verb ‎(plural abstract verbs)

1. Used other than as an idiom: see abstract,‎ verb.
2. (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 (eg. Polish przybiegać).

   (abstract in Russian but not in Polish) I went to the post office. (there and back, multidirectional)

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

   (abstract in Russian but not in Polish) 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)

Synonyms

• indeterminate verb
• indefinite verb
• potential verb

Antonyms

• concrete verb
• determinate verb
• definite verb

Translations