Tense-Aspect Combinations in English

Meaning/use: Simple Past is used most often to express action—

• that began…
• …and ended…
• …in the past.

Examples of simple past action

• Susan went to Spain last year.
• I woke up at seven this morning.
• The stock market collapsed in 1929.
• WW II ended in 1945.
• I finished reading Harry Potter.
• (Each of these actions began and ended in the past.)

Present Progressive

• What is the form?

Present Progressive

• Form: is, am, are + V + ing
• Examples: Susan is traveling; Larry is resting.
• (“Present” is the tense; “progressive” is the aspect.)

First, before we analyze further, let’s look at a sentence that uses present progressive…

I am reading a book.

• Consider this example in two ways:

I am reading a book.

• 1. My nose is on the page right now.
• 2. The book is at home next to my bed. Before I fall asleep, I spend some time with this book almost every night. I am on page 236.

Meaning/use: Present Progressive is used most often to express— Action that is NOT FINISHED at the moment of speaking.

Present Progressive

• “Not finished at the moment of speaking” can include extended time.
• I’m reading a book. (…right now.)
• I’m reading a book. (…but not right now.)
• I’m majoring in Biology.
• We are thinking of getting married.
• They are planning to move to Utah.

The idea of not finished can also be considered in several additional, interesting ways. Consider the following example:

• I live in Hong Kong, but I’m living in La’ie.
• Does it make sense to have simple aspect and progressive aspect appear in the same sentence?