Indefinite Aspect

What Is the Indefinite Aspect?

The indefinite aspect (or simple aspect as it's more commonly called) is the verb form used to express a fact. Unlike other aspects (like the progressive aspect or the perfect aspect), the indefinite aspect does not make it clear whether the action is a complete action or a habitual action. For example:

• Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. (fact)
• We climbed Mount Everest yesterday.
(This is a fact. Context tells us it's a complete action.)
• He climbs Mount Everest every year.
(This is a fact. Context tells us it's a habitual action.)

Any verb (in the past, present or future) in the simple tense is said to be in the "indefinite aspect."

The Indefinite Aspect Is Quite Complicated

Despite also being called the simple aspect, the indefinite aspect is not simple. A verb in the indefinite aspect relies on a combination of context and tense to clarify whether the action is complete or on going. For example:

• She ate cake.
(The tense tell us this is a complete action, but it is unclear whether this was a habitual action or not. The context doesn't make it clear.)
• She ate a cake.
(This is also a complete action. This time, context suggests it wasn't a habitual action.)
• She eats cake.
(This time, it's unclear whether this is a habitual action or just a fact.)

With the exception of the simple future tense (which is formed with the auxiliary verb "will"), verbs in the indefinite aspect are not formed using auxiliary verbs or participles. So, it's quite easy to form.

The Three "Indefinite Aspect" Verb Tenses

This lesson is about the three tenses (past, present, and future) in the indefinite (or simple) aspect. There are four aspects in total, each of which has three tenses. So, overall, there are 12 tenses.

The tables below show all 12 tenses categorized by aspect. The tenses in the indefinite (or simple) aspect are highlighted.

The "Indefinite (Simple) Aspect" Tenses	Examples
The indefinite aspect is used to describe facts and habits.
Simple Present Tense	The mice eat the cables.
Simple Past Tense	The mice ate the cables.
Simple Future Tense	The mice will eat the cables.

The "Progressive (or Continuing) Aspect" Tenses	Examples
The progressive aspect expresses ongoing actions.
Present Progressive Tense	The mice are eating the cables.
Past Progressive Tense	The mice were eating the cables.
Future Progressive Tense	The mice will be eating the cables.

The "Perfect (or Complete) Aspect" Tenses	Examples
The perfect aspect expresses completed actions.
Present Perfect Tense	The mice have eaten the cables.
Past Perfect Tense	The mice had eaten the cables.
Future Perfect Tense	The mice will have eaten the cables.

The "Perfect Progressive Aspect" Tenses	Examples
The perfect progressive aspect expresses the end of an ongoing action.
Present Perfect Progressive Tense	The mice have been eating the cables.
Past Perfect Progressive Tense	The mice had been eating the cables.
Future Perfect Progressive Tense	The mice will have been eating the cables.

Read more about the aspect of verbs.

Examples of Verbs in the Indefinite Aspect

Here are some examples of verbs in the indefinite aspect.

In the Past Tense

• I washed the car.
(simple past tense)
• They washed the car.
(simple past tense)

In the Present Tense

• I wash the car.
(simple present tense)
• They wash the car.
(simple present tense)

In the Future Tense

• I will wash the car.
(simple future tense)
• They will wash the car.
(simple future tense)

Forming the Indefinite Aspect

Here is an overview on how to form the indefinite aspect:

Forming the Simple Past Tense (for most verbs)

• They danced.

This is how the simple past tense is formed with most verbs. However, there are several spelling rules to consider. Read more about forming the simple past tense.

Forming the Simple Present Tense (for most verbs)

or if it's the third person singular (he, she, or it):

• We dance.
• She dances.

This is how the simple present tense is formed with most verbs. However, there are several spelling rules to consider. Read more about forming the simple present tense.

Forming the Simple Future Tense

• He will dance.

Verb Tenses Showing the Indefinite Aspect

Here are the 12 tenses again. This time, the tenses are ordered under the headings past tense, present tense, and future tense. As before, the tenses in the indefinite aspect are shaded in yellow.

The 4 Past Tenses	Example
simple past tense	I went
past progressive tense	I was going
past perfect tense	I had gone
past perfect progressive tense	I had been going
The 4 Present Tenses	Example
simple present tense	I go
present progressive tense	I am going
present perfect tense	I have gone
present perfect progressive tense	I have been going
The 4 Future Tenses	Example
simple future tense	I will go
future progressive tense	I will be going
future perfect tense	I will have gone
future perfect progressive tense	I will have been going

Verb Tense Widget

Use this widget to learn about the different tenses. How do you use this widget? Well, if there's a button, a drop-down menu, or a , then you can click it!

Why Understanding the Indefinite Aspect Is Important

Native English speakers can use all twelve tenses without giving the grammar a second thought. However, if you're learning or teaching English, you must spend time learning the tenses because expressing when something occurs is a fundamental communication skill. The simple tenses are usually the first tenses taught, but, as we've covered, they're not simple at all, and they're not used too often during a natural conversation.

Remember that tenses do not just tell us whether something is a past, present, or future action. They also tell us whether the action is habitual, completed, or ongoing (called the aspects).

The trick to learning tenses is mastering the following:

• The verb "to be" in all its forms (am, is, are, was, were, will be)
• The verb "to have" in all its forms (has, have, had, will have)
• Present participles, i.e., the "ing" form of verbs (e.g., playing, thinking, eating)
• Past participles (e.g., played, thought, eaten)

Key Points

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