What Is the Aspect of a Verb? (with Examples)
The aspect of a verb is determined by whether the action is on going or completed.The four aspects are:
- Simple Aspect (also known as the indefinite aspect)
- Perfect Aspect (also known as the complete aspect)
- Progressive Aspect (also known as the continuing aspect)
- Perfect Progressive Aspect
Examples of Aspect
Here are some examples of the aspects in sentences:- He took the photos. (simple aspect - no emphasis of completed or on-going action)
- He had taken the photos by the time the owner arrived. (perfect aspect - action completed)
- He was taking the photos when the owner arrived. (progressive aspect - action on going)
- He had been taking the photos before the owner arrived. (perfect progressive aspect - action on going but then finished)
Aspect applies equally to the present tense and the future tense.
Aspects in Past, Present, and Future Tenses
Here is a table showing how the different aspects are formed in the past, future, and future tenses:The Simple Aspect (Indefinite Aspect) | Example |
---|---|
simple past tense | I went |
simple present tense | I go |
simple future tense | I will go |
The Perfect Aspect (Completed Aspect) | Example |
past perfect tense | I had gone |
present perfect tense | I have gone |
future perfect tense | I will have gone |
The Progressive Aspect (Continuing Aspect) | Example |
past progressive tense | I was going |
present progressive tense | I am going |
future progressive tense | I will be going |
The Perfect Progressive Aspect | Example |
past perfect progressive tense | I had been going |
present perfect progressive tense | I have been going |
future perfect progressive tense | I will have been going |
A Quick Test


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