This document discusses verb forms, specifically the perfect and continuous tenses. It explains that verbs can change based on how an action is performed. The perfect tense uses "had" or "has" plus the past participle to indicate a completed action over time. The continuous tense uses "is", "are", "was", or "were" plus the "-ing" form to show an ongoing action in the present. Mnemonic devices like "hugging a fat man" can help remember that perfect tense describes a completed action, while "chopping a snake's head" represents continuous tense for an ongoing action.

1. Writing 101
Verb Forms -
Perfect & Continuous Tenses

2. Learning Objectives

Understand how verbs change as a result of
how an action is done.

Use memory aids to help in remembering
different aspects of time.

3. Introduction

A sentence's meaning changes when the aspects
of verb change.
1) He is walking to school. (now still walking)
2) He has walked to school. (reached after a while)
3) He has been walking to school. (still walking
after a while)

In these 3 examples, they all belong to an action
– 'walk' – in the present moment.

However, the manner in which the
action takes place is different.

4. Aspects of Verb

These aspects are known as Continuous ('ing'
form), Perfect ('ed' form) and Perfect
Continuous ('been' + 'ing' form) respectively.
1) He is walking to school. (now still walking)
2) He has walked to school. (reached after a while)
3) He has been walking to school. (still walking
after a while)
Even though they are all referring to present actions
– with present tenses 'is' and 'has' – the aspects of
verbs and hence, the meanings are different.

5. How to remember them?

These 3 aspects of verbs are easily remembered
when you use memory aids (or mnemonic
devices).

Perfect sounds like 'fat' so extend your arms
wide, as if hugging someone (hugging a 'fat'
man). This verb form describes a completed
action over a period (fat) of time.

Continuous ends with 's' so do a 'chopping'
action on an imaginary snake head (chopping
snake head). This verb form describes an
ongoing action at the moment (chop) in time.

6. Examples

We will see some examples:
1) 100,000 people have attended Michael Buble's
concert so far.
2) Alan was studying when the bell rang.

have attended – completed over a period of time

was studying – ongoing at moment of speech.
Note that perfect and continuous tenses are fixed
with has/have/had + 'ed' and is/are/was/were +
'ing' forms respectively.

7. Learning Activity

Say what aspects of verb – perfect or continuous –
have been used in these sentences.
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.

Q: What are the key word/s that show you the
aspects?

8. Learning Activity Answers

The aspects of verbs and the key words that
help show 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)

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

10. In Summary

A verb aspect describes how an action is done as
compared to verb tenses describing when it is
done.

The 2 aspects discused are perfect and
continuous.

They described completed action over a
prolonged period and an ongoing action at the
moment of speech.

They are remembered by a 'hugging fat man' for
perfect and 'chopping snake head' for continuous