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 native 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 your learning language
Spanish marks event shape through tense contrasts, estar + gerund, haber + participle, and other periphrases.
Estaba leyendo cuando llegaste.
I was reading when you arrived.
Learners often confuse preterite/imperfect and overuse English-like progressive forms.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.