Tense

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

Tense

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Tense

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Tense

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

tense

A: He speaks. N: He does not speak. Q: Does he speak?

A: He is speaking. Present N: He is not speaking. Progressive Q: Is he speaking?

A: He spoke. Simple Past N: He did not speak. Q: Did he speak?

A: He was speaking. N: He was not Past Progressive speaking. Q: Was he speaking?

Present Perfect Simple

A: He has spoken. N: He has not spoken. Q: Has he spoken?

Past Perfect Simple

A: He had spoken. N: He had not spoken. Q: Had he spoken?

A: He will speak. N: He will not speak. Q: Will he speak?

Future I Simple (going to)

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 Future I speaking. Progressive Q: Will he be speaking?

action that might take place

You might also like