What Is the Perfect Aspect? (with Examples)
The perfect aspect (or complete aspect as it's sometimes called) is the aspect of a verb which expresses a completed action.Perfect aspect is the term for verbs in a perfect tense.
Examples of Verbs in the Perfect Aspect
Here are some examples of verbs in the perfect aspect:In the Past Tense
- We had seen.
- I had cleaned.
- She had drunk.
- I have seen.
- She has taken.
- It has found.
- You will have finished.
- They will have eaten.
- She will have swum.
Forming the Perfect Aspect
The perfect aspect is formed using a form of the auxiliary verb have and the past participle. For example:Forming the Past Perfect Tense
"had" + past participle
- They had played.
"has" or "have" + past participle
- He has played.
- We have played.
"will have" + past participle
- He will have played.
Verb Tenses Showing the Perfect Aspect
Here is a list of the verb tenses. The ones in the perfect aspect are shaded.| The 4 Past Tenses | Example |
|---|---|
| simple past tense | I went |
| past progressive tense | I was going |
| past perfect tense | I had gone |
| past perfect progressive tense | I had been going |
| The 4 Present Tenses | Example |
| simple present tense | I go |
| present progressive tense | I am going |
| present perfect tense | I have gone |
| present perfect progressive tense | I have been going |
| The 4 Future Tenses | Example |
| simple future tense | I will go |
| future progressive tense | I will be going |
| future perfect tense | I will have gone |
| future perfect progressive tense | I will have been going |
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