1. Verb Aspect
Content derived from JEA’s Magazine, Communication: Journalism Education Today
Editing

2. Verb aspect
The verb expresses actions, events or states of being about the subject of the sentence. It is the critical element of the predicate of a sentence.
Aspect defines the verb’s temporal flow, meaning whether the action is complete or continuous.

3. Verb aspect
Aspect refers to the nature of the action described by the verb. There are three aspects: simple, perfect and progressive.

4. Simple tenses
Simple tenses describe an action but do not state whether it is finished.
Use when the beginning or ending of an action is unknown or unimportant or when the action is habitual or repeated.

5. Simple tenses I edited. (simple past) I edit. (simple present)
I will edit. (simple future)

6. Perfect aspects
Perfect aspects describe a finished action. Use this when the end of the action is known to emphasize the action is complete in the past, present or future. Use a form of “to have” in the appropriate tense.

7. Perfect aspects I had edited. (past perfect)
I have edited. (present perfect)
I will have edited. (future perfect)

8. Progressive aspect
Progressive aspect describes an ongoing action. Use it when the action is ongoing in the present, past or future. Use an appropriate form of “to be.”

9. Progressive aspect I was editing. (past progressive)
I am editing. (present progressive)
I will be editing (future progressive)

10. Progressive aspect
It is also possible to combine the complete aspects and tenses to describe an action that was in progress and then finished.
I had been editing. (past perfect progressive)
I have been editing. (present perfect progressive)
I will have been editing. (future perfect progressive)

11. Verb aspect
Writers and editors should be conscious of aspect as they evaluate the accuracy of statements.
Timeline is always important. Attention to sequence is essential to convey information accurately to readers.

12. Verb aspect
Aspect also makes it easy for readers to understand the connection of completed action and ongoing action.
Using aspect correctly makes it easy for readers to understand actions, events and states of being and aids the important goal: fluency. Use words clearly so readers’ perceptions will be correct.