Table of English Tenses

tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

always, every …, never,

Simple A: He speaks.  action in the present taking
normally, often, seldom,
Present N: He does not speak. place regularly, never or several sometimes, usually
Q: Does he speak? times if sentences type I (If
 facts I  talk, …)

 actions taking place one after

another
 action set by a timetable or
schedule
Present A: He is speaking. at the moment, just, just
 action taking place in the
Progressive N: He is not speaking. now, Listen!, Look!, now,
Q: Is he speaking? moment of speaking right now
 action taking place only for a
limited period of time
 action arranged for the future
Simple A: He spoke. yesterday, 2 minutes ago,
 action in the past taking
Past N: He did not speak. in 1990, the other day, last
Q: Did he speak? place once, never or several times Friday
 actions taking place one after if sentence type II (If
another I  talked, …)

 action taking place in the

middle of another action
Past A: He was speaking. while, as long as
 action going on at a certain
Progressive N: He was not speaking.
Q: Was he speaking? time 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, never,
 putting emphasis on the result
Perfect N: He has not spoken. not yet, so far, till now, up
Simple Q: Has he spoken?  action that is 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. all day, for 4 years, since
 putting emphasis on
Perfect N: He has not been speaking. 1993, how long?, the
Progressive Q: Has he been speaking? the course or duration (not the whole week
result)
 action that recently stopped
or is still going on
 finished action that influenced
the present
Past A: He had spoken. already, just, never, not
 action taking place before a
Perfect N: He had not spoken. yet, once, until that day
Simple Q: Had he spoken? certain time in the past if sentence type III (If
 sometimes interchangeable I  had talked,  …)
with past perfect progressive
 putting emphasis only on
the fact (not the duration)
Past A: He had been speaking. for, since, the whole day,
 action taking place before a
Perfect N: He had not been speaking. 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 …,
 action in the future that
Simple N: He will not speak. tomorrow
Q: Will he speak? cannot be influenced If-Satz Typ I (If you ask her,
 spontaneous decision she  will help you.)
assumption: I think,
 assumption with regard to the
probably, perhaps
future
Future I A: He is going to speak. in one year, next week,
 decision made for the future
Simple N: He is not going to speak. 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 week,

 action that is going on at a
Progressive N: He will not be speaking.
 Q: Will he be speaking?
Future II A: He will have spoken.
Simple N: He will not have spoken.
Q: Will he have spoken?
Future II A: He will have been speaking.
Progressive N: He will not have been speaking.
Q: Will he have been speaking?
Conditional A: He would speak.
I Simple N: He would not speak.
Q: Would he speak?
Conditional A: He would be speaking.
I N: He would not be speaking.
Progressive Q: Would he be speaking?
Conditional A: He would have spoken.
II Simple N: He would not have spoken.
Q: Would he have spoken?
Conditional A: He would have been speaking.
 action that might have taken
II N: He would not have been
Progressive speaking.
Q: Would he have been speaking? 
tomorrow
certain time in the future
 action that is sure to happen
in the near future
by Monday, in a week
 action that will be finished at
a certain time in the future
for …, the last couple of
 action taking place before a
hours, all day long
certain time in the future
 putting emphasis on
the course of an action
if sentences type II
 action that might take place
(If I were you, I would
go home.)
 
 action that might take place
 putting emphasis on
the course / duration of the action
if sentences type III
 action that might have taken
(If I had seen that, I would
place in the past have helped.)
 
place in the past
puts emphasis on
the course / duration of the action