Tense, aspect, voice

The meaning of tense:

There are only two tenses in the English language: the present and the past tenses.

Out of these two, the PAST tense is marked with -ed suffixes.

The futurity is expressed through MODAL verbs! ← this is why there is no future tense!

The meaning of aspect:

The simple aspect:

Used for facts, general truths, habits, permanent states/situations (present and past!), sequence of actions (in the past), and single completed action (in the past).

She travels to France every day.

He works in an office.

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Britain.

I live in Szeged. We lived just outside of Oxford in the 90s, but we didn't have a car.

Julius Caesar invaded Britain in 55 B.C.

I went into the shop and looked for some clothes.

Special simple aspect uses:

In headlines: “Sport centres ban energy drinks for children”; and while using Historic present - colloquial narratives 

Stative verbs:

We NEVER use stative verbs in the continuous!! → LIES!!! We do use it, however, we do not USUALLY use them in the continuous form!

            Example: commercials → McDonald’s - “I’m lovin’ it”

Be or do?

Their use is mutually exclusive!!! BE is the auxiliary of progressive aspect tenses.

We use DO if/when we’re talking about activity (do, don’t, doesn’t - mit csinál)

The progressive aspect:

Used for/when we focus on the actions and its duration rather than the results; actions in progress at a particular time; process of changing; temporary situations; actions in progress when another thing happens; plans/arrangements; repeated actions that may be annoying; tentative ideas.

Everyone is waiting at the moment. (present)

We didn't hear the intruder because we were sleeping. (past)

He's living with his parents until he can find a house.

The economy is getting worse.

She's always playing her music loudly. - also constantly, continually, forever 

John was crying when I arrived.

I was thinking of going home this weekend.

Nancy was taking the next flight to Paris so she had to leave.

I was wondering if I could borrow some money. 

The perfect(ive) aspect:

Used for: consequences resulting from a previous action/state; completion before another time.
Present perfect: connects the present with the past; focus on the length of the action; incomplete action/state!; present result of an action; news.

The centre of the island has not been inhabited since 1925. - specific time

The centre of the island has not been inhabited for decades. - duration

I've only been to Hong Kong once. --> in the meaning of 'I can still go, I am not dead yet.

We can start the interview; all the candidates have arrived.

Former president has died at the age of 77.

Past perfect: look back from a time in the past to a time before that; context-dependent, needs an anchor (time anchor!).

I had to go back because I had forgotten my passport.

At that point, he had been doing the job for fifteen years. 

When I had sorted that out, I sighed.

It came almost as a shock to realize that her night had been peaceful. - narrative 

The perfect-progressive aspect:

Used in cases of: incomplete/ongoing actions/states - began in the past - continue to a specific time (be that past or present); drawing a conclusion; focus on the length of time/action; focus on the process.

It has been snowing.

It had been snowing for days.

The temperature has been dropping for days.

The meaning of voice:

There are the Active and the Passive voice in the English language.

Active means the Subject performs the action of, or acts upon the Verb, while the Direct Object receives the action of the Verb.

Passive voice means that the Subject receives the action of the transitive Verb.