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