Tense & Aspect Chart

  • simple/indefinite aspect - verb expresses a fact
    • does not make it clear whether the action is complete or habitual
  • perfect/perfective/complete aspect - verb expresses a completed action
  • progressive/continuous aspect - verb expresses a habitual/continuous action
  • perfect progressive aspect - verb expresses the end of an ongoing action

VERB

ASPECT

Simple/Indefinite
Perfect/Perfective/Complete
Progressive/Continuous

Perfect Progressive

“tensed” simple

“tensed” have + past participle

“tensed” be + gerund

“tensed” have + been + gerund

T

E
N
S
E

Present

present simple tense:

  • write/writes
  • He walks to the store

has/have + past participle:

  • has/have written
  • He has walked to the store

am/is/are + gerund:

  • am/is/are writing
  • He is walking

has/have + been + gerund:

  • has/have been writing
  • He has been walking
Past

past simple tense:

  • wrote
  • He walked to the store

had + past participle:

  • had written
  • I had walked to the store

was/were + gerund:

  • was/were writing
  • He was walking

had + been + gerund:

  • had been writing
  • He had been walking
Future

will + present simple tense:

  • will write
  • He will walk to the store

will + have + past participle:

  • will have written
  • I will have walked to the store

will + be + gerund:

  • will be writing
  • He will be walking

will + have + been + gerund:

  • will have been writing
  • He will have been walking