Grammatical aspect can be defined as the grammaticalized expression of the temporal structure of an action or state. Temporal structure roughly relates to duration. The English language has four grammatical aspects:
- Simple aspect
- Perfect aspect
- Progressive aspect
- Perfect-progressive aspect
The following sections explain and exemplify the four grammatical aspects of English verbs that both native speakers and ESL students must learn.
Simple Aspect
The first grammatical aspect in the English language is the simple aspect. The simple aspect allows speakers to express discrete or habitual actions or states. For example, the following sentences are examples of the English simple aspect in the present tense:
- The little girl reads a book every morning.
- The train leaves in an hour.
- Book are returned to the main library.
And, the following sentences are examples of the English simple aspect in the past tense:
- He painted me a picture.
- The puppy puked on the floor.
- The dishes were washed last night.
Perfect Aspect
The second grammatical aspect in the English language is the perfect aspect. The perfect aspect allows speakers to express and emphasize the consequences of a previous action or state. For example, the following sentences are examples of the English perfect aspect in the present tense:
- I have studied for the test.
- The woman has changed her outfit.
- The speech has been written for the ceremony.
And, the following sentences are examples of the English perfect aspect in the past tense:
- The students had met the lecturer before.
- I had just jumped into the shower when the phone rang.
- The bedding had already been washed.
Progressive Aspect
The third grammatical aspect in the English language is the progressive aspect. The progressive aspect allows speakers to express incomplete or ongoing actions or states. For example, the following sentences are examples of the English progressive aspect in the present tense:
- I am listening to the song.
- He is watching the movie trailer.
- Refreshments are being provided by the professor.
And, the following sentences are examples of the English progressive aspect in the past tense:
- The woman was shopping online.
- We were hiking in the woods.
- The packages were being delivered by UPS.
Perfect-Progressive Aspect
The fourth grammatical aspect in the English language is the perfect-progressive aspect. The perfect-progressive aspect allows speakers to express and emphasize the consequences of a previous ongoing or incomplete action or states. For example, the following sentences are examples of the English perfect-progressive aspect in the present tense:
- Her grandfather has been smoking again.
- We have been studying English verbs.
- The vegetables have been being watered by kids in the neighborhood.
And, the following sentences are examples of the English perfect-progressive aspect in the past tense:
- He had been jogging when the storm hit.
- Donations had been being collected over the summer.
- The company had been being investigated for code violations.
Grammatical aspect expresses temporal structure, which imperfectly relates to the duration of an action or state. Both native speakers and English language learners must learn the four grammatical aspects in English – simple, perfect, progressive, and perfect-progressive – in order to communicate effectively and fully in the English language.
Sources
Hopper, Paul J. A Short Course in Grammar. W.W. Norton & Company: New York, 1999.
Huddleston, Rodney. Introduction to the Grammar of English. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1984.
Heather Marie Kosur - About Me I earned a BA in English studies with a minor in creative writing from Illinois State University in May 2007 and an MS in ...
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