Aspect and voice in English

Lengua III - 2022

 1.1 The simple aspect

1 The simple aspect describes an action that is seen to be complete.

1 The sun rises in the east. (all time)
2 I’ve phoned Dad – he’s fine. (complete)
3 My mother always worked when she was young. (habit)
In examples 1–3, the focus is on the action. The time/time period is not
relevant.
4 He died in 2012. (action completed in the past)
5 The show will start at 7.30. (simple fact)

2 Because the simple aspect expresses a completed action, we must use

it if the sentence contains a number that refers to ‘things done’.
He goes to the gym three times a week.
I’ve made ten phone calls today.

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 1.2 The continuous aspect

The continuous aspect focuses on the duration of an activity.

1 The activity is not permanent, and its duration is limited.

He’s living in a flat until he finds a house to buy. (temporary)
I’m coming – wait for me! (in progress)
She’s been studying German since 2010. (duration)
2 The activity may not be complete.
I’ve been tidying the shed. (We don’t know if it’s finished.)
Who’s been eating my biscuits? (There are some left.)
Compare: Who’s eaten my biscuits? (They’re all gone.)
3 The continuous aspect is usually avoided with state verbs,
which express permanence rather than duration.
I understand that things are difficult. I hate coffee.

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 1.2 The continuous aspect

4 When we use the continuous aspect with verbs which, by definition,

last a long time (e.g. live, work), the action of the verb becomes
temporary.
Sara is working in London until July.
I’m living in Oxford while I’m a student.
5 Compare verbs which, by definition, last a short time. In the
continuous aspect, the action of the verb becomes longer or
repeated.
She’s cut her finger. BUT I’ve been cutting wood. (for a long time)
He shouted at me. BUT He was shouting at me. (again and again)

Note: It has become common to use the continuous aspect even

with state verbs, to add a sense of immediacy in a colloquial
context.
I’m liking your music.

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 1.2 The continuous aspect

Correct if necessary using a simple or continuous form.

1The Earth is going round the Sun. Incorrect – goes
2I’ve been training hard for the race and I think I’m ready. Correct
3I’ve finished that report last night. Here it is. Incorrect – finished
4Turn on the TV – the Prime Minister is making a speech. Correct
5I know you’re having problems at school at the moment. Correct
6Andrew usually is playing tennis every week. Incorrect – plays
7I always loved animals when I was small. Correct
8My mum hates chocolate. Correct
9Carrie studies in Brisbane until May. Incorrect – is/will be studying
10It was awful – she was hitting me, and crying, and everything!
Correct

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 1.3 The perfect aspect

Perfect verb forms link an earlier action or event with a later situation.
The important elements are the occurrence of the action and the
results or state of affairs produced by it. So the perfect aspect
expresses two ideas:
1 an action completed before another time
I’ve seen the new Coen brothers film. (some time before now)
I will have had something to eat before we meet. (some time
before then)
2 an action producing a result or a state of affairs relevant to a later
situation
I’ve read the news headlines. (I know the news now)
The exact time of the event is not important.

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 1.3 The perfect aspect

Explain the difference between the pairs of sentences.

1 a I live in Prague.
b I’ve lived in Prague.
a = now b = sometime before now
2 a I’d love to come.
b I’d love to have come.
a = yes, I’ll come b = the event is in the past
3 a Did you ever go to Madrid?
b Have you ever been to Madrid?
a = once in the past b = at any time before now
4 a The concert will start at 7.00.
b The concert will have started at 7.00.
a = fixed start time in the future b = future in the past

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 1.4 Active and passive

1 The passive is frequently used in English to express ideas that

require impersonal or reflexive construction in other languages. It is
also sometimes used where other languages use the active.
Their products are advertised online.
Portuguese is spoken in Brazil. (*Portuguese speaks itself …)
2 Passive sentences move the focus of attention from the subject of
an active sentence to the object. The subject may become the agent
after the preposition by.
Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1440s.
The printing press, one of the most important developments in
history, was invented (by Gutenberg) in the 1440s.
3 We often omit by and the agent in passive sentences, because the
agent isn’t known, isn’t important, or is understood.
The castle was destroyed in the fifteenth century.
The escaped prisoner has been recaptured.

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 1.4 Active and passive

4 In informal language, we often use you or they to refer to people in

general or to no person in particular. In this way we can avoid
using the passive.
You can park anywhere on Sundays.
They’re opening more shopping centres in the North.

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 1.4 Active and passive

Make correct passive sentences.

1 Coffee is producing in Brazil.
Coffee is produced ...
2 The microwave oven invented by Percy Spencer in the 1940s.
The microwave oven was invented …
3 The new stadium was construct for the Olympic Games.
The new stadium was constructed ...
4 French speaks itself in many African countries.
French is spoken …
5 We loved be shown around the city by our friends.
We loved being shown …
6 The exhibition is being held in the town hall by the artist.
The exhibition is being held in the town hall.

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