Tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

 action in the present taking always, every …, never,

Simple A: He speaks.
place once, never or several normally, often, seldom,
Present N: He does not speak.
times sometimes, usually
Q: Does he speak?
 facts if sentences type I (If

 actions taking place one Italk,  …)

after another

 action set by a timetable or

schedule

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

 action arranged for the future

Simple A: He spoke.  action in the past taking yesterday, 2 minutes

Past N: He did not speak. placeonce, never or several ago, in 1990, the other
Q: Did he speak? times day, last Friday

 actions taking place one if sentence type II (If

after another Italked, …)

 action taking place in the

middle of another action

Past A: He was speaking.  action going on at a certain when, while, as long as
Continuous N: He was not speaking. time in the past
Q: Was he speaking?  actions taking place at the
same time

 action in the past that is

interrupted by another action

Present A: He has spoken.  putting emphasis on already, ever, just,

Perfect N: He has not spoken. the result never, not yet, so far, till
Simple Q: Has he spoken?  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.  putting emphasis on all day, for 4 years,
Perfect N: He has not been speaking. the course or duration (not the since 1993, how long?,
Continuous Q: Has he been speaking? result) the whole week

 action that recently stopped

or is still going on

 finished action that

influenced the present

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

with past perfect progressive Ihad talked,  …)

 putting emphasis only on

thefact (not the duration)

Past A: He had been speaking.  action taking place before a for, since, the whole
Perfect N: He had not been speaking. certain time in the past day, all day
Continuous Q: Had he been speaking?  sometimes interchangeable
with past perfect simple

 putting emphasis on
theduration or course of an
action

Future I A: He will speak.  action in the future that in a year, next …,
Simple N: He will not speak.  cannot be influenced tomorrow
Q: Will he speak?  spontaneous decision If-Satz Typ I (If you ask

 assumption with regard to her, she will help  you.)

the future assumption: I think,

probably, perhaps

Future I A: He is going to speak.  decision made for the future in one year, next week,
Simple N: He is not going to speak.  conclusion with regard to the tomorrow
Q: Is he going to speak? future
(going to)
Future I A: He will be speaking.  action that is going on at a in one year, next week,
Continuous N: He will not be speaking. certain time in the future tomorrow
Q: Will he be speaking?