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?
