Affirmative/Negative/Questi Signal

tense Use
on Words

action in the always,

Simple A: He speaks. present taking every ,
Present N: He does not speak. place once, never never,
Q: Does he speak? or several times normally,
often,
facts seldom,
actions taking sometimes
place one after , usually
another if
action set by a sentences
timetable or type I (If
schedule I talk, )

Present A: He is speaking. action taking at the

Progressiv N: He is not speaking. place in the moment,
e Q: Is he speaking? moment of just, just
speaking now,
Listen!,
action taking Look!,
place only for a now, right
limited period of now
time
action arranged
for the future
Simple A: He spoke. action in the yesterday,
Past N: He did not speak. past taking 2 minutes
Q: Did he speak? place once, never ago, in
or several times 1990, the
other day,
actions taking last Friday
place one after if sentence
another type II (If
action taking I talked,
place in the middle )
of another action
Past A: He was speaking. action going when,
Progressiv N: He was not speaking. on at a certain time while, as
e Q: Was he speaking? in the past long as
actions taking
 place at the same
time
action in the
past that is
interrupted by
another action
Present A: He has spoken. putting already,
Perfect N: He has not spoken. emphasis on ever, just,
Simple Q: Has he spoken? the result never, not
yet, so far,
action that is till now, up
still going on 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 all day, for
Perfect N: He has not been emphasis on 4 years,
Progressiv speaking. the course or since
e Q: Has he been speaking? duration (not the 1993, how
result) long?, the
whole
action that week
recently stopped or
is still going on
finished action
that influenced the
present
Past A: He had spoken. action taking already,
Perfect N: He had not spoken. place before a just, never,
Simple Q: Had he spoken? certain time in the not yet,
past once, until
that day
sometimes if sentence
 interchangeable type III (If
with past perfect I had
progressive talked, )
putting
emphasis only on
the fact (not the
duration)
Past A: He had been speaking. action taking for, since,
Perfect N: He had not been place before a the whole
Progressiv speaking. certain time in the day, all day
e Q: Had he been speaking? past
sometimes
interchangeable
with past perfect
simple
putting
emphasis on
the duration or
course of an action
Future I A: He will speak. action in the in a year,
Simple N: He will not speak. future that cannot next ,
Q: Will he speak? be influenced tomorrow
If-Satz Typ
spontaneous d I (If you
ecision ask her,
assumption with she will
regard to the future help you.)
assumptio
n: I think,
probably,
perhaps
Future I A: He is going to speak. decision made in one
Simple N: He is not going to speak. for the future year, next
Q: Is he going to speak? week,
(going to) conclusion with tomorrow
regard to the future
Future I A: He will be speaking. action that in one
Progressiv N: He will not be speaking. is going on at a year, next
e Q: Will he be speaking? certain time in the week,
future tomorrow
 action that is
sure to happen in
the near future
Future II A: He will have spoken. action that will by
Simple N: He will not have spoken. be finished at a Monday, in
Q: Will he have spoken? certain time in the a week
future
Future II A: He will have been action taking for , the
Progressiv speaking. place before a last couple
e N: He will not have been certain time in the of hours,
speaking. future all day
Q: Will he have been long
speaking? putting
emphasis on
the course of an
action
Conditiona A: He would speak. action if
l I Simple N: He would not speak. that might take sentences
Q: Would he speak? place type II
(If I were
you,
I would
go home.)
Conditiona A: He would be speaking. action that
lI N: He would not be might take place
Progressiv speaking.
e Q: Would he be speaking? putting
emphasis on
the course / durati
on of the action
Conditiona A: He would have spoken. action if
l II Simple N: He would not have that might have sentences
spoken. taken place in the type III
Q: Would he have spoken? past (If I had
seen that,
I would
have
helped.)
Conditiona A: He would have been action that
l II speaking. might have taken
Progressiv N: He would not have been place in the past
e speaking. puts emphasis
Q: Would he have been on
speaking? the course / durati
on of the action

Explanation Past Present Future

Simple Past Simple Present Future I

Simple

action that takes place He played football He plays football He will / is

once, never or several every Tuesday. every Tuesday. going to play
times football
every
Tuesday.

actions that happen one He played football He plays football He will play
after another and then he went and then he goes football and
home. home. then he will
go home.

state He loved football. He loves football. He will love

football.

Past Progressive Present Future I

Progressive Progressive
action going on at that He was playing He is playing He will be
moment football. football. playing
football.

actions taking place at the He was playing He is playing He will be

same time football and she football and she is playing
was watching. watching. football and
she will be
watching.

Past Perfect Present Perfect Future II

Simple Simple Simple

action taking place before a He had won five He has won five He will have
certain moment in time; matches until that matches so far. won five
emphasises the result day. matches by
then.

Past Perfect Present Perfect Future II

Progressive Progressive Progressive

action taking place before a He had been He has been He will have
certain moment in time (and playing football for playing football for been playing
beyond), emphasises the ten years. ten years. football for
duration ten years.