Aspects

continuous tenses perfect continuous tenses perfect tenses simple tenses

Verbs give information either about the subject or the state of the actions. As a result, aspects are formed. Let us learn more about them.

What Is Aspect?

Aspects are special forms of verbs that indicate information other than the tense. They do not show the exact time.

Why Do We Use Aspects?

We use 'aspects' to indicate the completion, duration, repetition of an action.

My grandmother is a dentist.

She has been setting up a new company, but suddenly she lost everything.

My mother was speaking to my dad, so I didn't interrupt.

Different Types of Aspects

There are four aspects in the English grammar that are introduced on the list:

simple
progressive (also called continuous)
perfect
perfect progressive (also called perfect continuous)

What Is the Simple Aspect?

The 'simple aspect' is used to express actions happening habitually or frequently. This aspect can also be used to describe facts.

Harry Potter is a brave boy.

The professor told us to submit our assignment.

She will talk to you about the issue.

She drinks tea every evening.

Different Tenses in Simple Aspect

These tenses are used in the simple aspect:

These are a few examples that might help you understand them better:

She knows what I mean.

The teachers were really angry with her.

When I called her, she was talking to Jimmy.

Ian dies at the end of the movie.

They will study better.

What Is the Progressive Aspect?

an example of the continuous aspect

The 'progressive aspect' (also called the 'continuous aspect') shows that something happens continuously in a limited period of time.

The old man was getting weaker because of the illness.

People are electing their president.

Pam is cooking turkey for thanksgiving.

I will be wearing a red dress.

Difference Tenses in the Progressive Aspect

These tenses are used in the progressive aspect:

Now take a look at these examples for more clarification:

Hanna is trying to be nice to you.

They were dancing at the party.

I will be listening to music at the conference.

She will be playing piano the moment they are walking down the aisle.

What Is the Perfect Aspect?

The 'perfect aspect' is used to show that an action took place in the past but it is limited to a later time, which is usually the present.

Have you ever been here?

They had been together since 1965.

Different Tenses in the the Perfect Aspect

These are the tenses that are used in the perfect form:

Take a look at these examples:

This has been a pleasure.

He had gone to China

I will have finished the class by then.

The plane will have landed.

What Is the Perfect Progressive Aspect?

The 'perfect progressive aspect' shows the end of an ongoing action. Check out the examples for more clarification:

We have been having fun there.

She had been taking the exam.

He will have been studying English for five months.

Different Tenses in the Perfect Progressive Aspect

The perfect progressive aspect is used in these tenses:

Here are a few examples that may help you understand the perfect progressive aspect more.

They will have been exercising for ten years.

Nina had been watching him stealing the car.

I have been feeling sick lately.

Review

Aspects, in English grammar, indicate how an action or state is denoted by the verb. In this table, we will see all the aspects and tenses in English.

	Present	Past	Future
Simple	present simple	past simple	future simple
Progressive	present progressive	past progressive	future progressive
Perfect	present perfect	past perfect	future perfect
Perfect progressive	present perfect progressive	past perfect progressive	future perfect progressive