Tense-Aspect Combinations in English

The meaning of “not finished” can be extended to include— Actions or conditions that are seen as temporary, incomplete, developing, changing, or easy to fix.

Verbs in progressive aspect sometimes carry a feeling of change, or “temporariness.”

• Larry is living with his sister.
• Susan is having problems with her computer.

Note: Usually, verbs with STATIVE meaning do NOT appear in progressive form… but they CAN if the meaning is temporary or developing.

Okay or Strange?

• Susan resembles her mother.
• Okay.
• Susan is resembling her mother.
• Strange. (In most contexts.)
• Your answer seems to make sense.
• Okay.
• Your answer is seeming to make sense.
• Strange. (In most contexts.)

Verbs with stative meaning usually do not like progressive aspect.

• (In most cases, they also do not like imperative mood.)

But sometimes…

• Even a verb with stative meaning can appear in the progressive aspect, if….

…the stative verb carries a temporary or developing meaning.

• My boss is being uncooperative.
• How are you liking dorm life?
• “Be” and “like” usually do not appear with progressive aspect, but, here the meaning is temporary or developing, so progressive aspect is okay. In this case, progressive aspect makes sense.

Present Progressive can be used to express the FUTURE… IF… the future action is part of a PLANNED ACTIVITY.

Consider:

• 1. I can’t come to your party on Saturday night because I will leave on Saturday morning.
• 2. I can’t come to your party on Saturday night because I leave on Saturday morning.
• 3. I can’t come to your party on Saturday night because I’m leaving on Saturday morning.