Aspect of a Verb

What Is the Aspect of a Verb? (with Examples)

Aspect of a Verb (with Examples)

The aspect of a verb is determined by whether the verb expresses a fact, an ongoing action, a completed action, or the end of an ongoing action. This is simpler concept than it sounds. Look at this infographic.
verb aspect examples

The Four Aspects of a Verb

Here are some more examples of the four aspects:

 (1) Simple Aspect. The simple aspect expresses a fact.
  • John fished in the sea.
(This aspect is also known as the indefinite aspect.)

 (2) Perfect Aspect. The perfect aspect expresses a completed action.
  • John had caught two mackerel before the seals arrived.
(This aspect is also known as the complete aspect.)

 (3) Progressive Aspect. The progressive aspect expresses an ongoing action.
  • John was fishing when the seals arrived.
(This aspect is also known as the continuing aspect.)

 (4) Perfect Progressive Aspect. The perfect progressive aspect expresses the end of an ongoing action.
  • John had been fishing successfully before the seals arrived.

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Examples of Aspect

Here are some examples of the four aspects in sentences. These four examples are all in the past tense.
  • He took the photos.
    • (This is the simple aspect. There is no emphasis on whether the action was completed or ongoing.)
  • He had taken the photos by the time the owner arrived.
    • (This is the perfect aspect. It emphasizes that the action was completed.)
  • He was taking the photos when the owner arrived.
    • (This is the progressive aspect. It emphasizes that the action was ongoing.)
  • He had been taking the photos before the owner arrived.
    • (This is the perfect progressive aspect. It emphasizes that the action was ongoing but then finished.)
These sentences are all in the past tense, but they all have a different aspect. Remember that we need aspect to tell us whether the action was on going or completed.

 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 tenseI went
simple present tenseI go
simple future tenseI will go
The Perfect Aspect (Completed Aspect)Example
past perfect tenseI had gone
present perfect tenseI have gone
future perfect tenseI will have gone
The Progressive Aspect (Continuing Aspect)Example
past progressive tenseI was going
present progressive tenseI am going
future progressive tenseI will be going
The Perfect Progressive AspectExample
past perfect progressive tenseI had been going
present perfect progressive tenseI have been going
future perfect progressive tenseI will have been going

Verb Tense Widget

Use this widget to learn about the different tenses. How do you use this widget? Well, if there's a button, a drop-down menu, or a , then you can click it!
to rid

 (irregular verb)

Select the tenses. 

Present Tenses 

Simple Present 
I rid
you rid
he/she/it rids
we rid
you rid
they rid

Past Tenses 

Simple Past 
I rid
you rid
he/she/it rid
we rid
you rid
they rid

Future Tenses 

Simple Future 
I will rid
you will rid
he/she/it will rid
we will rid
you will rid
they will rid