What Is Aspect in Grammar?
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
What Is Aspect in Grammar?
We use verbs to communicate actions. We also express their timing in the present, past, or future through their tense: e.g., practice, practiced, will practice.
Beyond establishing timing, we further treat verbs to indicate their open or closed nature within their tense. In other words, how does the action extend or not extend during a particular time? In English grammar, this is determined by the aspect of a verb.
Where tense tells us when an action occurs, the aspect further informs us about the action’s duration. For example, if it started in the past, is it still acting in the present, or did it act for a while and then stop before the present?
Verbs: Four Aspects
Verbs have four aspects: simple, perfect, progressive, and perfect progressive.
Simple aspect states an action without indicating its length of time or continuation.
Jameson practiced shooting baskets.
Progressive aspect communicates a continuing action:
Jameson is practicing shooting baskets because he wants to be a better scorer.
Perfect aspect describes the relation between an earlier action and a later time:
Jameson has practiced shooting baskets because he wants to be a better scorer.
Perfect progressive aspect expresses a past ongoing action that may be complete or incomplete before another suggested or identified time:
Jameson has been practicing shooting baskets to prepare for tonight’s game.
Aspect and Tense Examples
Now that we understand what verb aspect is, let’s look more at how each type correlates with the tenses of the verb to practice.
| Simple Aspect | |
| Present tense | Jameson practices. |
| Past tense | Jameson practiced. |
| Future tense | Jameson will practice. |
| Progressive Aspect | |
| Present tense | Jameson is practicing. |
| Past tense | Jameson was practicing. |
| Future tense | Jameson will be practicing. |
| Perfect Aspect | |
| Present tense | Jameson has practiced. |
| Past tense | Jameson had practiced. |
| Future tense | Jameson will have practiced. |
| Perfect Progressive Aspect | |
| Present tense | Jameson has been practicing. |
| Past tense | Jameson had been practicing. |
| Future tense | Jameson will have been practicing. |
Another View of Grammatical Aspect
Some grammar resources might also observe verb aspect as two categories rather than four: perfective and imperfective.
Within these condensed classifications, simple and perfect aspect would fall under perfective aspect, and progressive and perfect progressive aspect would be grouped with imperfective aspect.
Perfective aspect (simple, perfect) signifies an action with a sense of completion or containment: has practiced, had practiced, will have practiced. It does not convey a flow or extension of time or maintained activity.
Imperfective aspect (progressive, perfect progressive) describes an action that continues or repeats within its tense: is practicing, was practicing, had been practicing. It applies to events that are happening, have happened, or will happen.
Aspect: Reinforcing Example
With our understanding refined even further, let’s review another example of how aspect and tense combine to give us greater insight into a verb’s action.
Verb: to paint
Simple aspect, past tense: Lila painted.
Progressive aspect, past tense: Lila was painting.
Perfect aspect, past tense: Lila had painted.
Perfect progressive aspect, past tense: Lila had been painting.
As you can see, we know each action took place in the past. The aspect gives us more context about the actions.
With simple aspect, we know only Lila painted something. It is a limited thought without a sense of scope or duration.
With progressive aspect, we understand that Lila was in the continuing process of painting. The thought is open with a sense of motion.
With perfect aspect, we infer a resolute closure of the action. It is more firmly established in the past.
With perfect progressive aspect, we know the past action was open and flowing until it concluded.
Your grasp of aspect in grammar will reinforce your command of context and clarity in writing that is as compelling as it is informative for your readers.
Related Topics
What Is the Simple Past Tense?
Past Perfect Tense
Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous) Tense
Pop Quiz
In each sentence that follows, identify the aspect and tense of the verb.
1. Isabella rode the bus home from school.
2. Sabrina is practicing her cheer routine right now.
3. Kristie will be working late this evening.
4. The cat has eaten the chicken you left on the table.
5. Rosie the dog had been chasing the rabbit through the yard.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. Isabella rode the bus home from school. Simple aspect, past tense
2. Sabrina is practicing her cheer routine right now. Progressive aspect, present tense
3. Kristie will be working late this evening. Progressive aspect, future tense
4. The cat has eaten the chicken you left on the table. Perfect aspect, present tense
5. Rosie the dog had been chasing the rabbit through the yard. Perfect progressive aspect, past tense
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