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= Aspect = | == Aspect == | ||
''Aspect'' refers to how the action described by a verb extends over time. That sounds a lot like tense, doesn’t it? However, tense has to do with when in time an action takes place. For example, the sentences ''I walk'' and ''I am walking'' are both in the present tense, but the first sentence is in the ''simple'' aspect, while the second is in the ''progressive'' aspect. This distinction also exists in the past tense. ''I walked'' and ''I was walking'', as well as the future tense, ''I will walk'' and ''I will be walking''. The simple aspect describes actions that are regarded as a complete whole, while the progressive describes actions that are ongoing, and often occur simultaneously with other actions. ''I '''was walking''' and I '''saw''' my friend.'' | ''Aspect'' refers to how the action described by a verb extends over time. That sounds a lot like tense, doesn’t it? However, tense has to do with when in time an action takes place. For example, the sentences ''I walk'' and ''I am walking'' are both in the present tense, but the first sentence is in the ''simple'' aspect, while the second is in the ''progressive'' aspect. This distinction also exists in the past tense. ''I walked'' and ''I was walking'', as well as the future tense, ''I will walk'' and ''I will be walking''. The simple aspect describes actions that are regarded as a complete whole, while the progressive describes actions that are ongoing, and often occur simultaneously with other actions. ''I '''was walking''' and I '''saw''' my friend.'' | ||