Caesar imperat magnum numerum obsidum, Caesar demanded a large number of hostages (lit. demands).
4. In combination with jam, jam diū, jam prīdem, and similar words, the Present is frequently used of an action originating in the past and continuing in the present; as,—
jam prīdem cupiō tē vīsere, I have long been desiring to visit you (i.e. I desire and have long desired).
Imperfect Indicative.
[260]. 1. The Imperfect primarily denotes action going on in past time; as,—
librum legēbam, I was reading a book.
a. This force makes the Imperfect especially adapted to serve as the tense of description (as opposed to mere narration).
2. From the notion of action going on, there easily develops the notion of repeated or customary action; as,—
lēgātōs interrogābat, he kept asking the envoys;
C. Duīlium vidēbam puer, as a boy I often used to see Gaius Duilius.
3. The Imperfect often denotes an attempted action ('Conative Imperfect') or an action as beginning ('Inceptive Imperfect'); as,—