tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

always, every ,
Simple A: He speaks. action in the present taking never, normally,
Present N: He does not speak. place regularly, never or often, seldom,
Q: Does he speak? sometimes,
several times usually
facts if sentences type I
(If I talk, )
actions taking place one after
another
action set by a timetable or
schedule
Present A: He is speaking. at the moment,
Progressive N: He is not speaking. action taking place in the just, just now,
Q: Is he speaking? moment of speaking Listen!, Look!,
now, right now
action taking place only for a
limited period of time
action arranged for the future
Simple Past A: He spoke. yesterday, 2
N: He did not speak. action in the past taking minutes ago, in
Q: Did he speak? place once, never or several 1990, the other
day, last Friday
times if sentence type II
actions taking place one after (If I talked, )

another
action taking place in the
middle of another action
Past A: He was speaking. while, as long as
Progressive N: He was not speaking. action going on at a certain
Q: Was he speaking? time in the past
actions taking place at the
same time
action in the past that is
interrupted by another action
Present A: He has spoken. already, ever,
Perfect N: He has not spoken. putting emphasis on the result just, never, not
Simple Q: Has he spoken? yet, so far, till
action that is still going on
now, up to now
action that stopped recently
 finished action that has an
influence on the present
action that has taken place
once, never or several times
before the moment of speaking
Present A: He has been speaking. all day, for 4
Perfect N: He has not been speaking. putting emphasis on years, since
Progressive Q: Has he been speaking? the course or duration (not 1993, how long?,
the whole week
the result)
action that recently stopped or
is still going on
finished action that influenced
the present
Past A: He had spoken. already, just,
Perfect N: He had not spoken. action taking place before a never, not yet,
Simple Q: Had he spoken? certain time in the past once, until that
day
sometimes interchangeable if sentence type
with past perfect progressive III (If I had
talked, )
putting emphasis only on
the fact (not the duration)
Past A: He had been speaking. for, since, the
Perfect N: He had not been speaking. action taking place before a whole day, all day
Progressive Q: Had he been speaking? certain time in the past
sometimes interchangeable
with past perfect simple
putting emphasis on
the duration or course of an
action
Future I A: He will speak. in a year, next ,
Simple N: He will not speak. action in the future that cannot tomorrow
Q: Will he speak? be influenced If-Satz Typ I (If
you ask her,
spontaneous decision she will
help you.)
assumption with regard to the assumption: I
future think, probably,
perhaps
Future I A: He is going to speak. in one year, next
Simple N: He is not going to speak. decision made for the future week, tomorrow
Q: Is he going to speak?
 conclusion with regard to the
(going to)
future
Future I A: He will be speaking. in one year, next
Progressive N: He will not be speaking. action that is going on at a week, tomorrow
Q: Will he be speaking? certain time in the future
action that is sure to happen in
the near future
Future II A: He will have spoken. by Monday, in a
Simple N: He will not have spoken. action that will be finished at a week
Q: Will he have spoken? certain time in the future
Future II A: He will have been speaking. for , the last
Progressive N: He will not have been action taking place before a couple of hours,
speaking. certain time in the future all day long
Q: Will he have been speaking?
putting emphasis on
the courseof an action
Conditional A: He would speak. if sentences type
I Simple N: He would not speak. action that might take place II
Q: Would he speak? (If I were you,
I would
go home.)
Conditional A: He would be speaking.
I N: He would not be speaking. action that might take place
Progressive Q: Would he be speaking?
putting emphasis on
the course/ duration of the
action
Conditional A: He would have spoken. if sentences type
II Simple N: He would not have spoken. action that might have taken III
Q: Would he have spoken? place in the past (If I had seen that,
I would have
helped.)
Conditional A: He would have been
II speaking. action that might have taken
Progressive N: He would not have been place in the past
speaking.
Q: Would he have been puts emphasis on
speaking? the course / duration of the
action
1. can

Use Examples

ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be

I can speak English.
able to)

permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form:

Can I go to the cinema?
to be allowed to)

request Can you wait a moment, please?

I can lend you my car till

offer
tomorrow.

Can we visit Grandma at the

suggestion
weekend?

possibility It can get very hot in Arizona.

2. could
Use Examples

ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be

I could speak English.
able to)

permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form:

I could go to the cinema.
to be allowed to)

polite question * Could I go to the cinema, please?

polite request * Could you wait a moment, please?

I could lend you my car till

polite offer *
tomorrow.

Could we visit Grandma at the

polite suggestion *
weekend?

possibility * It could get very hot in Montana.

3. may

Use Examples

possibility It may rain today.

permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be May I go to the

allowed to) cinema?

polite suggestion May I help you?

4. might

Use Examples

possibility (less possible than may) * It might rain today.

hesitant offer * Might I help you?

5. must

Use Examples

force, necessity I must go to the supermarket today.

 Use Examples

possibility You must be tired.

advice, recommendation You must see the new film with Brad Pitt.

6. must not/may not

Use Examples

You mustn't work on dad's computer.

prohibition (must is a little stronger)

You may not work on dad's computer.

7. need not

Use Examples

sth. is not I needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the restaurant

necessary tonight.

8. ought to
simliar to should ought to sounds a little less subjective
 Use Examples

advice You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.

obligation You ought to switch off the light when you leave the room.

9. shall
used instead of will in the 1st person

Use Examples

suggestion Shall I carry your bag?

10. should

Use Examples

advice You should drive carefully in bad weather.

obligation You should switch off the light when you leave the room.
11. will

Use Examples

wish, request, demand, order (less polite

Will you please shut the door?
than would)

prediction, assumption I think it will rain on Friday.

promise I will stop smoking.

Can somebody drive me to the station? -

spontaneous decision
I will.

She's strange, she'll sit for hours without

habits
talking.

12. would

Use Examples

wish, request (more polite than will) Would you shut the door, please?

habits in the past Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.

* These are no past forms, they refer to the future.

Assailant = Attacker
Distraction = Mental Disturbance
Apprehensions = Feeling of Anxiety
Alleviate = Relieve, Reduce
Interspersed = Placed at intervals
Commodious = Spacious
Consternation = Confusion resulting from fear
Improvident = Careless, Not Providing for the future
Avarice = Greed