Tenses of the present system
The present system includes the present, the imperfect, and the future. Often the tenses of the present system are used for continuing or repeated action, as opposed to action that happens once and is done with. This is, in particular, the main difference between the imperfect and the present perfect. AG 465, 470, 472- “Angustos se fines habere arbitrabantur. His rebus adducti, constituerunt ea quae ad proficiscendum pertinerent comparare.” Caesar, BG 1.2-3 They (always, habitually) thought their territory was constricted. Prompted by these considerations, they (at one time) decided to prepare what they would need for the expedition.
Each of us writing lines would (repeatedly, over the course of the afternoon) play with this meter and that, sharing wine and laughter. I left (once) excited by your charm.“Scribens versiculos uterque nostrum
ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc,
reddens mutua per iocum atque vinum.
Atque illinc abii tuo lepore
incensus.
”- “Corripuere viam interea, iamque ascendebant collem.” Virgil, Aen. 1.418-419 They (once, at a single point in time) started on their way and were going up the hill (which took a little while).
- “Prima pars fuit illa quae me minus movebat.” Cicero, Cael. 26 The first part (of the speech the prosecutor has just finished making) was what (during that speech) bothered me least.
