Editing Chewa language (section)

====Perfective vs. imperfective====
Another important distinction in Chewa is between perfective and imperfective aspect. Imperfective tenses are used for situations, events which occur regularly, or events which are temporarily in progress:

*{{lang|ny|ndi-nká-gúlá}} 'I used to buy', 'I was buying (a long time ago)'
*{{lang|ny|ndi-ma-gúla}} 'I was buying (today)', 'I used to buy (a long time ago)'
*{{lang|ny|ndí-zi-dza-gúla}} 'I will be buying (regularly)'

In the present tense only, there is a further distinction between habitual and progressive:

*{{lang|ny|ndí-ma-gúla}} 'I buy (regularly)'
*{{lang|ny|ndi-ku-gúla}} 'I am buying (currently)'