The first aspect column in TABLE 3-1 shows the continuous aspect — the one that views an action as something in progress. If the action is in the middle of happening right now, Latin uses the present tense. To do this in English, we have to use a pronoun, followed by a form of the verb “to be,” plus the “-ing” form of the verb. In Latin, the verb currit means, and would be translated as its English equivalent, “he is running.”

Likewise, if the action were seen as in progress at an earlier time, Latin would use the imperfect tense currē bat. Notice how English simply bumps its present tense “is” to the past tense “was.” Finally, if the action is viewed as being in the middle of happening later on, Latin uses its future tense, curret, and English continues its pattern, shifting to the future of its verb “to be.”