Event Shape / Aspect
Is it ongoing, completed, habitual, repeated, or just starting?
Meaning
The internal time shape of an event: in progress, finished, repeated, habitual, started, continued, or result-focused.
How to spot it
Ask how the event unfolds over time, not just when it happens.
Examples
still|already|used to|finished|ongoing
is reading|has written|keeps asking
She is writing the letter.
Visual guide
Event = line, aspect = shape start ── writing ── end now: [in progress] She is writing the letter. Ask: ongoing? finished? repeated?
Time vs aspect: WHEN? past / now / future SHAPE? ongoing / done / habitual English: is reading / has written Other languages: verb form, aux, particle, prefix, or context
Language View
In your language
English aspect is central: progressive, perfect, and perfect progressive forms change how the event is viewed.
She has been studying.
has been studying = ongoing/relevant event shape
In learning language
Aspect is central: perfective, imperfective, participles and auxiliary constructions shape event meaning.
كان يقرأ عندما اتصلتُ.
He was reading when I called.
Learners may use one verb form for all ongoing, habitual, and completed meanings.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.