TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES

From: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/tenses

TENSE Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

• action in the present taking place

once, never or several times
always, every…, never,
• facts
A: He speaks. normally, often, seldom,
• actions taking place one after
SIMPLE PRESENT N: He does not speak. sometimes, usually
another
Q: Does he speak? if sentences type I (If I talk,
…)
• action set by a timetable or
schedule
• action taking place in the
moment of speaking
A: He is speaking. at the moment, just, just
• action taking place only for a
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE N: He is not speaking. now, Listen!, Look!, now,
limited period of time
Q: Is he speaking? right now
• action arranged for the future
• action in the past taking place
once, never or several times yesterday, 2 minutes ago,
A: He spoke. • actions taking place one after in 1990, the other day, last
SIMPLE PAST N: He did not speak. another Friday
Q: Did he speak? if sentence type II (If I
• action taking place in the middle talked, …)
of another action

PAST PROGRESSIVE
• action going on at a certain time
in the past
A: He was speaking. • actions taking place at the same
N: He was not speaking. time when, while, as long as
Q: Was he speaking?
• 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
A: He has spoken. • finished action that has an already, ever, just, never,
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE N: He has not spoken. influence on the present not yet, so far, till now, up
Q: Has he spoken? to 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)
A: He has been speaking. • action that recently stopped or is all day, for 4 years, since
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE N: He has not been speaking. still going on 1993, how long?, the whole
Q: Has he been speaking? week
• finished action that influenced the
present
• action taking place before a
certain time in the past
already, just, never, not
A: He had spoken. • sometimes interchangeable with
yet, once, until that day
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE N: He had not spoken. past perfect progressive
if sentence type III (If I had
Q: Had he spoken?
talked,…)
• putting emphasis only on the fact
(not the duration)
• action taking place before a
certain time in the past
A: He had been speaking. • sometimes interchangeable with
for, since, the whole day,
PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE N: He had not been speaking. past perfect simple
all day
Q: Had he been speaking?
• putting emphasis on the duration
or course of an action
• action in the future that cannot be in a year, next …,
influenced tomorrow
A: He will speak.
• spontaneous decision If-Satz Typ I (If you ask
FUTURE I SIMPLE N: He will not speak.
her, she will help you.)
Q: Will he speak?
• assumption with regard to the assumption: I think,
future probably, perhaps
 • decision made for the future
A: He is going to speak.
FUTURE I SIMPLE in one year, next week,
N: He is not going to speak.
(going to) • conclusion with regard to the tomorrow
Q: Is he going to speak?
future
• action that is going on at a
A: He will be speaking. certain time in the future
in one year, next week,
FUTURE I PROGRESSIVE N: He will not be speaking.
tomorrow
Q: Will he be speaking? • action that is sure to happen in the
near future
A: He will have spoken.
• action that will be finished at a
FUTURE II SIMPLE N: He will not have spoken. by Monday, in a week
certain time in the future
Q: Will he have spoken?
• action taking place before a
A: He will have been speaking.
certain time in the future
N: He will not have been for…, the last couple of
FUTURE II PROGRESSIVE
speaking. hours, all day long
• putting emphasis on the course of
Q: Will he have been speaking?
an action
A: He would speak. if sentences type II
CONDITIONAL I SIMPLE N: He would not speak. • action that might take place (If I were you, I would go
Q: Would he speak? home.)
• action that might take place
A: He would be speaking.
CONDITIONAL I PROGRESSIVE N: He would not be speaking.
• putting emphasis on the course /
Q: Would he be speaking?
duration of the action
A: He would have spoken. if sentences type III
• action that might have taken
CONDITIONAL II SIMPLE N: He would not have spoken. (If I had seen that, I would
place in the past
Q: Would he have spoken? have helped.)
A: He would have been
• action that might have taken
speaking.
place in the past
N: He would not have been
CONDITIONAL II PROGRESSIVE • puts emphasis on the course /
speaking.
duration of the action
Q: Would he have been
speaking?