TENSES CHART

Tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

yesterday, 2 minutes
Simple A: He spoke.  action in the past taking ago, in 1990, the
Past N: He did not speak. place once, never or several other day, last Friday
Q: Did he speak? if sentence type II (If
times Italked, …)
 actions taking place one
after another
 action taking place in the
middle of another action
Present A: He has spoken. already, ever, just,
Perfect N: He has not spoken.  putting emphasis on never, not yet, so far,
Simple Q: Has he spoken? the result till now, up to now

 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
Present A: He has been speaking. all day, for 4 years,
Perfect N: He has not been speaking.  putting emphasis on since 1993, how
Continuou Q: Has he been speaking? the course or duration (not long?, the whole
s week
the result)
 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 not yet, once, until
Simple Q: Had he spoken? before a certain time in the that day
if sentence type III
past (If Ihad talked, …)
 sometimes
 interchangeable with past
perfect progressive
 putting emphasis only
on the fact (not the duration)

PRACTICE ON PERFECT TENSES

NAMES:_________________________________________________________________________