1. Writing 101
Perfect Aspects of Time

2. Learning Objectives

To demonstrate an action that has happened
over a period of time.

3. Introduction

Verbs change in a sentence when how the action
takes place changes
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)

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.

4. 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.

5. How to remember them?


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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.

6. Examples of Present Perfect
1) 100,000 people have attended Michael Buble's
concert so far.
'have attended' – 100,000 people, needs a 'fat' time
2) 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.

7. Examples of Past Perfect
1) 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.

8. 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.

9. 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)

10. 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?

11. In Summary



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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.