Aspect
The aspect of a verb is determined by whether the action is
on-going or completed. Although all verbs in the past have already
happened, aspect is used to emphasise whether the action was on-going or
completed at the time. The four aspects are: simple aspect
(also known as the indefinite aspect),
perfect aspect (or complete aspect), progressive aspect (or
continuing
aspect) and perfect progressive aspect.
Examples:
 He took
the photos.
(simple aspect - no emphasis of completed or on-going action)
He had
taken the photos by the time the owner arrived.
(perfect aspect - action completed)
He was
taking the photos when the owner arrived.
(progressive aspect - action on-going)
He had
been taking the photos before the owner arrived.
(perfect progressive aspect - action on-going
but then finished)
These are all in the past tense, but aspect applies equally to the
present and future tenses:
See also:
Glossary of grammatical terms
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