Verb usage

The head of a clause (the predicate) is realised by a VP, and the head of a VP (the predicator) is realised by a verb. The verb thus functions as the ultimate head of a clause, and is the syntactically most important element within it: properties of the verb determine what other kinds of element are required or permitted

Focus

Aspect: “simple, progressive, perfect, perfect progressive” Then tense: past, present future

Aspect

Shows how an action unfolded over time.

Tense shows time; aspect shows, for example, whether an event is seen as ongoing or completed at a particular time.

• Ongoing

• Completed with present relevance

He has finished
They had left before you arrived

• Ongoing and linked to another time

  She has been studying for hours
  She had been working before he arrived