Event Shape / Aspect
Is it ongoing, completed, habitual, repeated, or just starting?
Significado
The internal time shape of an event: in progress, finished, repeated, habitual, started, continued, or result-focused.
Como identificar
Ask how the event unfolds over time, not just when it happens.
Exemplos
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
Visão do idioma
No seu idioma nativo
Aspect is encoded by tense choice, estar plus gerund, ter plus participle, adverbs, and context.
Ela está escrevendo a carta.
She is writing the letter.
No seu idioma de aprendizado
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
Learners often confuse simple, progressive, and perfect forms, especially present perfect vs. simple past.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.