Advanced Grammar

Advanced · Grammar Reference

Unit 1 — Tense Review

simple · continuous · perfect aspects · active/passive · reflexive verbs

1.1 The simple aspect

The simple aspect describes an action that is seen to be complete. The action is viewed as a whole unit.

The sun rises in the east. (= all time)I've read the book and seen the film. (complete)My father always wore a suit to work. (habit)He died in 1992. (action completed in the past)This shop will close at 5.30. (simple fact)

Notice that in the first three examples, a specific time period isn't particularly relevant — the focus is on the fact that the action takes/took place.

Because the simple aspect expresses a completed action, we must use it if the sentence contains a number that refers to 'things done'.

I drink five cups of tea a day. She's written three emails today.

1.2 The continuous aspect

Continuous verb forms express activities, or a series of activities, viewed at some point between their beginning and end. The continuous aspect focuses on the duration of an activity: we are aware of the passing of time. The activity is not permanent, and its duration is limited.

I'm staying with friends until I find a place of my own. (temporary)Why are you wearing that silly hat? (in progress)I've been learning English for years. (duration)

The activity may not be complete: I've been painting the kitchen. (We don't know if it's finished.)
Because the activity is seen in progress, it can be interrupted.
The action of some verbs lasts a short time (lose, break, cut, hit, crash) and are often found in the simple. In the continuous aspect, the action becomes longer or repeated: I've been cutting wood. (for a long time)

📌 Note

It has become common recently to use the continuous aspect even with state verbs, to add a sense of immediacy in a colloquial context: I'm liking your new hairstyle! I'm really wishing she hadn't come!

1.3 The perfect aspect

The perfect aspect expresses two ideas:

1 — An action completed before another time

I've read his latest book. (some time before now)When I arrived, Mary had cooked the meal. (some time before I arrived)I will have learned my lines before the play starts. (some time before then)

2 — An action producing a result or a state of affairs relevant to a later situation

I've read his latest book. (I know the story now.)When I arrived, Mary had cooked the meal. (It was on the table then.)

An important characteristic of perfect verb forms, therefore, is that they explicitly link an earlier action or event with a later situation. Another characteristic is that the exact time of the action or event is either irrelevant or disregarded.

1.4 Active and passive

The passive is frequently used in English to express ideas that require a reflexive or impersonal construction in other languages, and in many cases is also used where other languages use the active.

English is spoken all over the world. His books are sold in Europe.

Passive sentences move the focus of attention from the subject of an active sentence to the object.
In most cases, by and the agent are omitted in passive sentences. This is because the agent isn't known, isn't important, or is understood.
Sometimes we prefer to end a sentence with what is new.
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.

1.5 Future forms

English has several forms which express future events. The main forms and meanings are given in Grammar Reference Unit 11.

1.6 Reflexive verbs

Reflexive verbs feature the pronouns myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, oneself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.

Uses

Where the subject and object are the same person: We watched ourselves bungee jumping on video.
To give emphasis: She spoke to the manager himself. The food itself was good, but the restaurant was a bit scruffy.
With by — meaning 'without help' or 'all alone': He put up the shelf all by himself. She lives by herself.

📌 Note

The passive is used in English where reflexives are often used in other languages: English is spoken here. / Breakfast is served from 7.00 a.m.
'themselves' or 'each other': Peter and David blamed themselves for the mistake. (= Peter blamed Peter / David blamed David). Peter and David blamed each other for the mistake. (= Peter blamed David / David blamed Peter)