Table of English Tenses

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 once, never or several often, seldom,
Q: Does he speak? sometimes, usually
times if sentences type I
§ facts (If I talk, …)

§ actions taking place one after

another

§ action set by a timetable or

schedule
Present A: He is speaking. at the moment, just,
Progressive N: He is not speaking. § action taking place in the just now, Listen!,
Q: Is he speaking? moment of speaking Look!, now, right
now
§ action taking place only for a
limited period of time

§ action arranged for the future

Simple Past A: He spoke.
N: He did not speak.
Q: Did he speak?
yesterday, 2 minutes
§ action in the past taking ago, in 1990, the
place once, never or several 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. when, while, as long
Progressive N: He was not speaking. § action going on at a certain time as
Q: Was he speaking? 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, just,
Perfect N: He has not spoken. § putting emphasis on the result never, not yet, so
Simple Q: Has he spoken? far, till now, up to
§ action that is still going on
now
§ action that stopped recently

§ finished action that has an

influence on the present

Present A: He has been speaking.
Perfect N: He has not been speaking.
Progressive Q: Has he been speaking?
§ action that has taken place once,
never or several times before the
moment of speaking
all day, for 4 years,
§ putting emphasis on the course or since 1993, how
duration (not the result) long?, the whole
week
§ action that recently stopped or is
still going on

§ finished action that influenced the

present
Past A: He had spoken. already, just, never,
Perfect N: He had not spoken. § action taking place before a not yet, once, until
Simple Q: Had he spoken? certain time in the past that day
if sentence type III
§ sometimes interchangeable with (If I had talked, …)
past perfect progressive

§ putting emphasis only on

the fact (not the duration)
Past A: He had been speaking. for, since, the whole
Perfect N: He had not been speaking. § action taking place before a 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

Future I A: He will speak.
Simple N: He will not speak.
Q: Will he speak?
Future I A: He is going to speak.
Simple N: He is not going to speak.
Q: Is he going to speak?
(going to)
Future I A: He will be speaking.
Progressive N: He will not be speaking.
Q: Will he be speaking?
or course of an action
in a year, next …,
§ action in the future that cannot be tomorrow
influenced If-Satz Typ I (If you
ask her, she will
§ spontaneous decision help you.)
assumption: I think,
§ assumption with regard to the probably, perhaps
future
in one year, next
§ decision made for the future week, tomorrow
§ conclusion with regard to the
future
in one year, next
§ action that is going on at a certain week, tomorrow
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, all
speaking. certain time in the future day long
Q: Will he have been speaking?
§ putting emphasis on the course of
an action
Conditional A: He would speak. if sentences type II
I Simple N: He would not speak. § action that might take place (If I were you,
Q: Would he speak? I would gohome.)
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 III
II Simple N: He would not have spoken. § action that might have taken (If I had seen that,
Q: Would he have spoken? place in the past I would have
helped.)
Conditional A: He would have been speaking.
II N: He would not have been § action that might have taken place
Progressive speaking. in the past
Q: Would he have been speaking?
§ puts emphasis on
the course / durationof the action