In the verb system of English, verbs can refer to the Present, the Past or the Future. Within each of these ‘time zones’ we can make the verb phrase provide information about the duration and/or completeness of an action. This is called the verb ‘aspect’.
The simple aspect is, as the name suggests, the one that provides least additional information. The continuous aspect lays stress on something going on over a period of time:
They are staying at a hotel in Durham.
The perfect aspect often suggests that an action is complete but still has some relevance to the present time:
Sawyer has written to the SSI to complain.
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