Questions tagged [aspect]
Aspect is the grammatical category which describes the manner in which an utterance presents an event unfolding over time.
96
questions
-3
votes
1
answer
55
views
I’ve already called her four times ________. Why not before?
I’ve already called her four times ________.
today
again
before
yesterday
Why is the answer today not before?
- 4,051
0
votes
1
answer
57
views
Categorisation of verbs
I am confused about verbs. Have seen the following categorisation:
Past Simple
Past Perfect
Past Continuous
Past Perfect Continuous
Past Subjunctive
I understand that Past is a Tense. But what about ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
91
views
Perfect Continuous Aspect
The perfect continuous aspect is used for the end of an ongoing action. How is it applicable in the two instances as follows?
I had been working in the office when 9/11 happened. (Here I worked even ...
- 177
3
votes
3
answers
475
views
going absolutely crazy
What's the difference in meaning between the following sentences? Does the first mean the fans were not absolutely crazy yet, just as John was not dead yet in "John was dying"?
The fans ...
- 5,986
4
votes
2
answers
68
views
Strange present perfect continuous here?
In The Jam's song, "Smither's Jones", there is a sentence [in bold]
"Good Morning Smithers-Jones
How's the wife and home?
Did you get the car you've been looking for?
Did you get the ...
- 7,633
5
votes
4
answers
166
views
Difference between "the number of people you would have thought" OR "the number of people you would think"?
This from the BBC website Lost wallet found 5 years on
It is about a story in which somebody lost his wallet 5 years ago after he watched a game in a rugby stadium, and it was found 5 years later. ...
- 7,617
0
votes
1
answer
44
views
The Difference between Was & Had Been [duplicate]
What is the difference between:
I was upset, so I did not go.
I had been upset, so I did not go.
Some people say that both are correct, but don't we use the past perfect when we are talking about ...
Ezz Abu Hijleh
-1
votes
1
answer
172
views
simple past + by 6pm
This question helped me construct the next sentences and I want to make sure if they're correct:
By 6pm I had given him the
money, and then I went home. (Would "gave" be incorrect?)
I gave ...
- 719
7
votes
2
answers
139
views
Have you ever been so close ... things suddenly all go wrong
The following is an interesting combination of the present perfect in the first clause and the present simple in the second. They supposedly refer to the same experience. Why is this mismatch okay? ...
- 5,986
1
vote
1
answer
40
views
Usage of the continuous aspect in these sentences?
I've been learning English for some years now, and I still couldn't can't wrap my head around how to properly use the continuous aspect. I did a bit of research before posting this question, ...
Midnight Unspoken
0
votes
1
answer
288
views
is, is going to be, or will be
I want to ask you please why the right answer in this sentence
Easter ____ at the end of April this year
is "is" and not "is going to be"
0
votes
4
answers
354
views
"Can be originated" vs "can originate"
While writing the thesis, google docs proposed me to use "can originate" instead of "can be originated". Seriously, is there any difference? I am not a native speaker, that's why I ...
- 157
0
votes
1
answer
67
views
will be doing and would be doing
Do you know why "will/would be doing" is used instead of "will/would do" in the following? This use of the progressive seems alien to me.
If you quit your job, you will be doing ...
- 5,986
1
vote
2
answers
853
views
What is imperfective and perfective in English?
I know both of them are categorized under aspect, but do imperfective refer to "was doing" and perfective refer to "have done"? Then how about "have been doing" and "...
- 113
4
votes
4
answers
961
views
be picking up the phone
I'd like to know what "be picking up the phone" means in the following. Does it mean a person is holding the phone, or is about to pick up the phone?
John is picking up the phone.
- 5,986