根据现代英语语法,英语只有两种“时”(现在时和过去时)和两种“体”(进行体和完成体)。所以根据现代英语语法,英语动词的限定形式只有8种时、体形式:
一般现在时:He watches TV every day.
一般过去时:He watched TV every day when he was young.
现在进行体:He is watching TV now.
过去进行体:He was watching TV when I came in.
现在完成时:He has watched TV for three hours.
过去完成体:He had watched TV for three hours by the time I got home.
现在完成进行体:He has been watching TV for three hours.
过去完成进行体:He had been watching TV for three hours by the time I got home.