This is a more advanced and high-level look at tense in English. For more basic information, start with our post on the English verb tenses.
What do “simple,” “continuous,” and “perfect” mean in English verb tenses?
In English verbNo definition set for verbLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. tenses, the words “simple,” “continuous,” and “perfect” describe the aspect of a verb. Every English verb has a tenseNo definition set for tenseLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. and an aspect:
The tense tells you if it happened before now (past), during now (present), or after now (future).
The aspect tells you other information, like how it happened, how long it happened for, or when it happened compared to something else.
The aspect determines which auxiliary verbNo definition set for auxiliary verbLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. (be, do, have ) you use while the tense determines which form (past, present, future) you use. For example:
was running |
---|
continuous aspect → auxiliary verb = be |
past tense → was |
In this post, we’ll look at how to form verbs by combining tense and aspect and how verb aspects help us describe events. Now, let’s get into the words “simple,” “continuous,” and “perfect”!
Important
Table of Contents
How to identify the aspect of an English verb?
To identify the aspect of an English verb, all you need to do is look at the auxiliary verb:
Aspect | Auxiliary Verb |
---|---|
Simple | do / none* |
Continuous | be |
Perfect | have |
Remember that most English verbs are expressed in two parts: an auxiliary verb (or “helping verb”) and a main verb (which describes the action or situation). For example:
Jim has forgotten his keys.
Did you clean your room?
She is reading a book.
Important
Some notes on the pattern above:
If there is a modal auxiliary verb like will, can, should, might, may, etc. the next word is the auxiliary that will tell you the aspect:
modal auxiliaryauxiliary verbI might have forgotten.
It will be working soon.
A verb can use both have and be. This is called the perfect continuous aspect in English.
auxiliary verbShe has been cleaning.
How to choose the form of the main verb?
The form of the main verb depends on which auxiliary verb you use directly before it. For example:
Auxiliary Verb | Main verb form | Examples |
---|---|---|
do | rootNo definition set for rootLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. | walk, ring |
be | walking, ringing | |
have | walked, rung | |
e.g. will, can, should | root | walk, ring |
If there is no auxiliary verb then the form of the verb depends on the tense and the subject. Here are the options:
Tense | Main verb form | Example |
---|---|---|
Past | (root + -ed) | walked, rang |
Present (with he, she, it) Present (with other subjects) | walks, rings walk, ring |
We can use these same rules to choose the form of the auxiliary verb when more than one auxiliary verb is present!
She will have brought the drinks.
will (modal) → have (root)
have → brought (past participle)
Marcus should be bringing the drinks.
should (modal) → be (root)
be → bringing (present participle)
Maria might have been doing her homework.
might (modal) → have (root)
have → been (past participle)
been → doing (present participle)
How is the aspect related to the form of the main verb?
Because the aspect tells you the auxiliary verb and the auxiliary verb tells you the main verb form, the aspect can also generally tell you the form of the main verb:
Auxiliary verbs and main verb forms for different aspects | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Aspect | Auxiliary verb | Main verb form | ||
Simple | do / ∅ | Root (root) | Present form (root + -s) | Simple past (usually: root + -ed) |
Continuous | be | Present participle (root + -ing) | ||
Perfect | have | Past participle (root + -ed / irregular) |
How to identify the tense of an English verb?
The tense of a verb (past, present, future) determines the form of the first auxiliary verb. The chart below shows the form of the three main auxiliary verbs, do, be, and have, in the past, present, and future tenses.
Subject | Past | Present | Future |
---|---|---|---|
I / you / we / they | did | does | (none)* |
he / she / it | do |
Subject | Past | Present | Future |
---|---|---|---|
I | was | am | will be |
he / she / it | is | ||
you / we / they | were | are |
Subject | Past | Present | Future |
---|---|---|---|
I / you / we / they | had | have | will have |
he / she / it | has |
Some notes:
If there is no auxiliary, look at the form of the main verb to identify the tense:
root / root + -s → present tense
root + -ed / irregular → past tense
Remember that the present simple and the present continuous can also be used to talk about the future in English
Check out our article on modal verbs in English to learn more about how tense is expressed when modal verbs like can, should, or might are used. It’s a bit more complicated!
So, let’s look at how tense and aspect are expressed together in a verb:
I am running.
the auxiliary verb is a form of be → continuous aspect
am is in the present tense → present tense
She has run.
the auxiliary verb is a form of have → perfect aspect
has, is in the present tense → present tense
We ran.
there is no auxiliary verb → simple aspect
ran is in the past tense → past tense
Did you run?
the first auxiliary verb is a form of do → simple aspect
did is in the past tense → past tense
How does the aspect affect the meaning of a verb?
In English, the aspect affects the meaning of a verb by adding time detail to the basic English verb tenses.
The tense gives us three categories
past (before now)
present (during now)
future (after now)
The aspect of a verb allows you to answer question like:
For how long did it happen?
When did it happen compared to something else?
Did it finish?
Is it a habit?
Did it repeat?
…and more!
In each tense, the aspect gives you more information about when and how something happened. The chart below can give you a quick idea of how this works in all three tenses (past, present, future). The links in the chart will bring you to more complete explanations of how to use each form.
Verb aspect | Past | Present | Future |
---|---|---|---|
Simple | a finished action | a habit, custom, truth, or thought | a set plan or truth in the future |
We went to school yesterday. | We go to school every day. | The sun will rise tomorrow at 7:00. | |
Continuous | a past ongoing action happening when something else occurred | something happening during the moment of speech | a future action that continues for some time |
We were walking to school when it started to rain. | He is studying a new language now. | She will be teaching in Paris next semester. | |
Perfect | past events that happened before and were important for a past moment | past events that are important for understanding the present moment | events that will be important for a later future moment |
I had read the book many times before I saw the movie. | I have read that book already. | I will have read that book twice by the time I see the movie. | |
As you can see, each aspect is a little different in each tense, but do you notice any patterns across the tenses? Here are some general observations about the sorts of time details each aspect gives you in all English tenses:
The simple aspect is usually used for situations that are settled (true, decided, or finished).
I always have coffee at breakfast.
→ This is true.I saw a good movie yesterday.
→ This is finished.
The continuous aspect is always used when actions or situations continue for a period of time. Generally the period of time will overlap with another important moment in the same tense.
Jimmy is playing in the yard.
→ this action continues during the present momentLawrence was hugging the cat all night (last night).
→ this action continued during a past moment
The perfect aspect is usually used to talk about an action or situation that sets things up for a later situation. The tense of a verb in the perfect aspect depends on when the later situation is/was.
Mark has taught English for three years.
→ he began teaching in the past and is important for the present moment because he still teachesI had met John before the party started.
→ I met John before the party started, and so that was important for how I acted or felt when I saw him at the party
Summing up
In this article, we have learned some of the key traits of verb aspects in English:
A verb’s aspect is important for forming English verbs and for understanding exactly when, for how long, and how an event took place.
When you build an English verb:
Each aspect is associated with an auxiliary verb and a main verb form.
The tense tells you which form of the auxiliary verb to use.
There are three main verb aspects in English:
Simple aspect
Auxiliary do
Usually for situations that are settled, finished, true, or planned
Continuous aspect
Auxiliary be
Mostly for actions or events that happen over a period of time
Perfect aspect
Auxiliary have
Mostly for things that happen before another time in the same tense and that are important at that second time
As you begin to understand and use verb aspects with verb tenses, your English will become more detailed. When you combine these correctly, you will be able to tell your listener both when and how long an action took place.
Want to put your new understanding of verb aspects to work? Check out the verb activities we’ve prepared for you! Or, review what you’ve learned with the printable versions of our verb aspect charts.