Affirmative/Negative/Questio

Tense Use Signal Words

n
action in the
present taking
place once, never always,
or several times every ,
never,
facts normally,
A: He speaks.
often, seldom,
Simple Present N: He does not speak. actions taking sometimes,
Q: Does he speak? place one after usually
another if sentences
type I (If I
action set by a talk, )
timetable or
schedule
action taking
place in the
moment of
speaking
at the moment,
A: He is speaking. action taking
Present just, just now,
N: He is not speaking. place only for a Listen!, Look!,
Progressive
Q: Is he speaking? limited period of now, right now
time

action arranged
for the future
action in the past
taking place
once, never or yesterday, 2
several times minutes ago,
actions taking in 1990, the
A: He spoke.
Simple Past N: He did not speak. place one after other day, last
another Friday
Q: Did he speak?
if sentence
action taking type II (If I
place in the talked, )
middle of
another action
Past Progressive A: He was speaking. action going on when, while,
N: He was not speaking. at a certain time as long 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
putting emphasis
on the result
action that is still
going on
action that
stopped recently
already, ever,
A: He has spoken. finished action just, never, not
Present Perfect
N: He has not spoken. that has an yet, so far, till
Simple
Q: Has he spoken? influence on the now, up to
present now

action that has

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

finished action
that influenced
the present
action taking
place before a
certain time in
the past already, just,
never, not yet,
A: He had spoken. sometimes once, until that
Past Perfect interchangeable day
N: He had not spoken.
Simple with past perfect if sentence
Q: Had he spoken?
progressive type III (If I
had talked, )
putting emphasis
only on the fact
(not the duration)
Past Perfect A: He had been speaking. action taking for, since, the
Progressive N: He had not been speaking. place before a whole day, all
Q: Had he been speaking? certain time in day
 the past
sometimes
interchangeable
with past perfect
simple

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