Microsoft Word Theoretical Course of English Grammar

Nino Kirvalidze
48
3. Grammatical category of aspect 
Aspect is a grammatical category that adds time meanings to those meanings of the verb 
expressed by tense. The category of aspect answers the question: ‘Is the event/state described by 
the verb completed or is it continuing?’
There are two aspects in English: perfect and progressive (sometimes known as conti-
nuous). The perfect aspect most often describes events or states taking place during a preceding 
period of time. It is formed analytically with the help of the auxiliary have + past participle 
(participle II) of the main verb. The progressive or continuous aspect describes an event or state 
in progress. It is also formed analytically with the help of the auxiliary be + present participle 
(participle I) of the main verb. Verbs that do not have aspect marked on them are said to have 
simple aspect. Both perfect and progressive aspects can be combined with either present or past 
tense. There are the following forms of aspect in the English language: 
present perfect has examined 
past perfect had examined 
present progressive is examining 
past progressive was examining 
present perfect progressive has been examining 
past perfect progressive had been examining
Verb phrases can be also marked for both aspects at the same time, which accordingly is 
known as perfect progressive aspect. The perfect progressive is a hybrid form when the perfect 
and progressive aspects are combined in the same verb phrase to refer to a temporary situation 
leading up to the present (e.g. 
I have been running
. - the present perfect continuous form) or to 
some point in the past (e.g. 
The fire had been raging for over a week
when the fire-engines 
arrive. 
- the past perfect continuous form).
The present perfect often refers to past actions or states that began in the past and extend 
to the present, and will perhaps continue in the future:
They have been unhappy for a long time. 

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Theoretical Course of English Grammar 
Script by prof.