Writing 101

Perfect Aspects of Time

Learning Objectives

To demonstrate an action that has happened over a period of time.

Introduction Verbs change in a sentence when how the action

takes place changes1) He is walking to school. (now still walking)2) He has walked to school. (reached after a while)3) He had walked to school when his father's car

broke down yesterday. (reached after a while yesterday)

In these 3 examples, they all belong to an action – 'walk' – in the present moment. The manner in which the action takes place is different.

Aspects of Time The 'how' or manner in which an action takes

place - the aspects - is different. 1) He is walking to school. (now still walking)2) He has walked to school. (reached after a while)3) He had walked to school when his father's car

broke down yesterday. (reached after a while yesterday)

They are known as Continuous ('ing' form), Present Perfect (has + 'ed' form) and Past Perfect (had + 'ed' form) respectively.

How to remember them? These 2 aspects of time are easily remembered

when you use memory aids (or mnemonic devices).

Perfect sounds like 'fat' so this verb form describes a 'fat time' – an action completed over a period of time.

Continuous ends with 's' so this describes a 'snake body' that goes on continuously – an ongoing action at a moment in time.

Examples of Present Perfect1) 100,000 people have attended Michael Buble's

concert so far.'have attended' – 100,000 people, needs a 'fat' time2) He has had his lunch with his boss already. 'has had' – lunch, needs a 'fat' time as it is together

with his boss.3) The lesson has finally ended.'has finally ended' – lesson is difficult, finally ends,

so it must have been quite long; a 'fat' time.

Examples of Past Perfect1) Sarah's friend had left when she reached the bus

interchange.Sarah friend left for a 'fat' time already.2) Most of the students had completed their

assignment when the teacher arrived.The students completed their assignment for a 'fat'

time already. 3) The thief had fled when the police arrived. The thief fled for a 'fat' time already.

Learning Activity Say the verbs' aspects of time – perfect or

continuous – in these sentences. Underline the clues that help you say the aspects.

1) He has had his lunch already. 2) The lesson has ended and it's time to go home. 3) She is walking to school now.

Learning Activity Answers The aspects of time and the key words that help

indicate them are highlighted.1) He has had his lunch already. (perfect) 2) The lesson has ended and it's time to go home.

(perfect)3) She is walking to school now. (continuous)

Discussion What is a verb aspect as compared to its tenses? What are the 2 aspects discussed? How do we remember them? What do they indicate?

In Summary A verb aspect describes how an action is done as

compared to verb tenses describing when it is done.

The 2 challenging aspects are perfect, continuous and perfect continuous.

They are remembered by a 'fat' time and continuous 'snake'.

They described completed action over a long period and an ongoing action at a moment.