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 regularly, never or often, seldom,
Q: Does he speak? sometimes, usually
several 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

Simple Past A: He spoke.
N: He did not speak.
Q: Did he speak?
 action arranged for the future
yesterday, 2
 action in the past taking minutes ago, in
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 time
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
 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 years,
Perfect N: He has not been speaking.  putting emphasis on the course since 1993, how
Progressive Q: Has he been speaking? or 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
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 helpyou.)
assumption: I
 assumption with regard to the think, probably,
future 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, 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 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
thecourse / 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 Iwould have
helped.)
Conditional A: He would have been speaking.
II N: He would not have been  action that might have taken
Progressive speaking. place in the past
Q: Would he have been speaking?
 puts emphasis on
the course/ duration of the
action