Table of English Tenses

tense Affirmative/Negative/Q uestion

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

Use

Signal Words
al"a!s# ever! $# never# normall!# often# seldom# sometimes# usuall! if sentences t!pe % &If I talk, '

Simple Present

action in the present taking place once, never or several times facts actions taking place one after another action set ! a timeta le or schedule

Present Progressive

A: He is speaking. N: He is not speaking. Q: %s he speaking?

action taking place in the moment of speaking action taking place onl! for a limited period of time action arranged for the future

at the moment# (ust# (ust no"# )isten*# )ook*# no"# right no"

Simple Past

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

action in the past taking place once, never or several times actions taking place one after another action taking place in the middle of another action

!esterda!# + minutes ago# in ,--.# the other da!# last /rida! if sentence t!pe %% &If I talked, '

Past Progressive

A: He "as speaking. N: He "as not speaking. Q: Was he speaking?

action going on at a certain time in the past actions taking place at the same time action in the past that is interrupted ! another action

"hen# "hile# as long as

Present Perfect Simple

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

putting emphasis on the result action that is still going on action that stopped recentl! finished action that has an influence on the present action that has taken place once# never or several times efore the moment of speaking

alread!# ever# (ust# never# not !et# so far# till no"# up to no"

Present Perfect Progressive

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

putting emphasis on the course or duration &not the result' action that recentl! stopped or is still going on finished action that influenced the present action taking place efore a certain time in the past

all da!# for 0 !ears# since ,--1# ho" long?# the "hole "eek

Past Perfect Simple

alread!# (ust# never# not !et# once# until that da!

Q: Had he spoken?

sometimes interchangea le "ith past perfect progressive putting emphasis onl! on the fact &not the duration'

if sentence t!pe %%% &If I had talked, ' for# since# the "hole da!# all da!

Past Perfect Progressive

A: He had een speaking. N: He had not een speaking. Q: Had he een speaking? A: He "ill speak. N: He "ill not speak. Q: Will he speak?

action taking place efore a certain time in the past sometimes interchangea le "ith past perfect simple putting emphasis on the duration or course of an action action in the future that cannot e influenced spontaneous decision assumption "ith regard to the future

Future Simple

in a !ear# ne2t $# tomorro" %f3Sat4 5!p % &If you ask her, she will help you.' assumption6 % think# pro a l!# perhaps in one !ear# ne2t "eek# tomorro"

Future Simple &going to' Future Progressive

A: He is going to speak. N: He is not going to speak. Q: %s he going to speak? A: He "ill e speaking. N: He "ill not e speaking. Q: Will he e speaking? A: He "ill have spoken. N: He "ill not have spoken. Q: Will he have spoken? A: He "ill have een speaking. N: He "ill not have een speaking. Q: Will he have een speaking? A: He "ould speak. N: He "ould not speak. Q: Would he speak?

decision made for the future conclusion "ith 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 "ill e finished at a certain time in the future

in one !ear# ne2t "eek# tomorro"

Future

Simple

! 7onda!# in a "eek

Future

Progressive

action taking place efore a certain time in the future putting emphasis on the course of an action

for $# the last couple of hours# all da! long

!onditional Simple

action that might take place

if sentences t!pe %% &If I were you, I would go home.'

!onditional Progressive A: He "ould e speaking. N: He "ould not e speaking. Q: Would he e speaking? !onditional Simple A: He "ould have spoken. N: He "ould not have spoken. Q: Would he have spoken?

action that might take place putting emphasis on the course / duration of the action action that might have taken place in the past if sentences t!pe %%% &If I had seen that, I would have helped.'

!onditional Progressive

A: He "ould have een speaking. N: He "ould not have een speaking. Q: Would he have een speaking?

action that might have taken place in the past puts emphasis on the course / duration of the action