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Why Do We Use Aspects?
We use 'aspects' to indicate the completion, duration, or continuation of an action.
My grandmother is a dentist.
She had 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:
simple
progressive (also called continuous)
perfect
perfect progressive (also called perfect continuous)
What Is the Simple Aspect?
The 'simple aspect' is used to express singular actions happening habitually or frequently. This aspect can also be used to describe facts and truths. Here are some examples:
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 the Simple Aspect
These tenses are formed using the simple aspect:
Here are a few examples for each tense:
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?
The 'progressive aspect' (also known as the 'continuous aspect') shows that the action of the verb is ongoing in a limited period of time. For example:
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.
Different Tenses in the Progressive Aspect
These tenses are formed using the progressive aspect:
Now take a look at these examples:
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.
Different Types of Verbs in the Progressive Aspect
Verbs have been categorized into four groups based on whether and how they can be used in the progressive aspect:
Activity verbs refer to actions without a natural endpoint; for example: run, swim, dance, talk, read. Using these verbs in the progressive aspect highlights that the action of the verb is currently in progress.
Accomplishment verbs refer to actions that involve a process extending over time and resulting in a natural endpoint; for example: paint, write, build. These verbs naturally occur in the progressive aspect to show their continuation over an extended period and the fact that the overall event is not finished. Using these verbs in the simple aspect transforms them into an activity verb.
Achievement verbs refer to events that occur in a moment, with little or no duration; for example: win, understand, arrive, find, recognize. These verbs typically do not appear in the progressive aspect because their nature is more like "flashes" than durative processes. But sometimes a progressive form can be used, often to imply gradual change.
State verbs refer to conditions or situations that are static rather than dynamic; for example: know, love, believe, seem, own. Traditionally, states are not used in the progressive aspect because this aspect implies an unfolding process. However, in modern and colloquial usage they might be used progressively to convey that the state is being experienced in the moment rather than as a fixed, permanent quality.
Here are some examples of these verbs in the progressive aspect in sentences.
She is running in the park
This is an activity verb where the progressive aspect emphasizes the ongoing process of running.
He is painting a portrait.
This is an accomplishment verb which shows the action is performed over an extended period of time.
He's winning every match!
This is an achievement verb where use of the progressive aspects suggests that the development is seen as unfolding over time.
I'm loving this song
The use of the progressive with such stative verbs often introduces a sense of temporariness.
Iterative Verbs
Additionally, there are some verbs that denote actions that have an inherently recurring sense. For example, 'tick,' 'clap,' 'tap,' 'knock,' 'patter,' 'rattle,' etc. When these verbs are used in the progressive aspect, they express a repeated action rather than an ongoing one. Here are some examples:
He will be knocking until someone answers.
The clock is ticking.
Rain was pattering on the roof.
What Is the Perfect Aspect?
The 'perfect aspect' is used to show that an action is completed and has some relevance to another point in time.
Have you ever been here?
They had been together since 1965.
Different Tenses in the the Perfect Aspect
These are the tenses that are formed using the perfect aspect:
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' presents a combination of the perfect and the progressive aspects and, as a result, denotes both completion and progress. It is used to talk about actions that have been ongoing for some time and either ended at some point or are relevant to another point in time. Check out the examples:
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.
Passive Perfect Progressive
The use of passive voice in perfect progressive tenses is grammatically correct but very uncommon in everyday use. This is because the structure might look awkward and unnatural since a past participle and a present participle form of "be" are used in a row (been being) to form the passive voice, making the sense long and difficult to decode. Additionally, the same idea can usually be expressed using other structures (e.g. perfect tenses or the active voice). Look at the examples below:
The report has been being written by the team for weeks.
While grammatically correct, it would be more reasonable to use the active voice "The team has been writing the report for weeks."
The car had been being repaired for days before it was fixed.
This sentence can be rephrased using a perfect tense: "The car had been under repair for days before it was fixed."
The project will have been being developed for years by 2030.
Review
In English grammar, aspects 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 |
Quiz:
Which aspect is used to describe habitual actions or general truths?
Simple
Progressive
Perfect
Perfect progressive
The progressive aspect is used in which sentence?
"She writes novels."
"She has written a novel."
"She is writing a novel."
"She will have written a novel."
Match each sentence with the correct verb aspect.
Select all verbs that can be naturally used in the progressive aspect to express an ongoing action. (select five.)
know
draw
walk
own
seem
write
dance
find
arrive
make
Choose True or False for each sentence.
State verbs are always acceptable in the progressive aspect, without exception. | |
Iterative verbs like "tick" or "knock" express a repeated action when used in the progressive aspect. | |
The passive voice is commonly used with the perfect progressive aspect in everyday speech. | |
The progressive aspect is used to describe actions that are complete and finished. | |
The simple aspect can be used to describe facts and habitual actions. |
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