Table of English Tenses

tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

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

 actions taking place one

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

after another
 action taking place in the
middle of another action
Past A: He was speaking. while, as long as
Progressive N: He was not speaking.  action going on at a certain
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,
Perfect N: He has not spoken.  putting emphasis on never, not yet, so
Simple Q: Has he spoken? the result far, 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
Progressive Q: Has he been speaking? the course or duration (not the long?, 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,
Perfect N: He had not spoken.  action taking place before a not yet, once, until
Simple Q: Had he spoken? certain time in the past that day
if sentence type III
 sometimes interchangeable (If 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
Perfect N: He had not been speaking.  action taking place before a day, 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 …,
Simple N: He will not speak.   action in the future that tomorrow
Q: Will he speak? cannot be influenced If-Satz Typ I (If you
ask her, she will
 spontaneous decision helpyou.)
assumption: I think,
 assumption with regard to probably, perhaps
the future
Future I A: He is going to speak. in one year, next
Simple N: He is not going to speak.  decision made for the week, tomorrow
Q: Is he going to speak? future
(going to)
 conclusion with regard to
the future
Future I A: He will be speaking. in one year, next
Progressive N: He will not be speaking.  action that is going on at a week, tomorrow
Q: Will he be speaking? certain time in the future

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?
Conditiona A: He would speak.
l I Simple N: He would not speak.
Q: Would he speak?
Conditiona A: He would be speaking.
lI N: He would not be speaking.
Progressive Q: Would he be speaking?
Conditiona A: He would have spoken.
l II Simple N: He would not have spoken.
Q: Would he have spoken?
Conditiona A: He would have been speaking.
l II N: He would not have been
Progressive speaking.
Q: Would he have been speaking?
English Tenses – Examples
  Explanation
action that takes place once, never He played football
or several times
actions that happen one after
another
state
 action that is sure to
happen in the near future
by Monday, in a
 action that will week
be finishedat a certain time in the
future
for …, the last
 action taking place before a couple of hours, all
certain time in the future day long
 putting emphasis on
the course of an action
if sentences type II
 action that might take (If I were you,
place I would go home.)
 
 action that might take place
 putting emphasis on
thecourse / duration of the
action
if sentences type III
 action that might have (If I had seen that,
taken place in the past Iwould have
helped.)
 
 action that might have
taken place in the past
 puts emphasis on
the course / duration of the
action
Past Present Future
Simple Past Simple Present Future I Simple
He plays football He will / is going to
every Tuesday. every Tuesday. play football every
Tuesday.
He played football He plays football He will play football
and then he went and then he goes and then he will go
home. home. home.
He loved football. He loves football. He will love football.
  Past Progressive Present Future I Progressive
Progressive

action going on at that moment He was playing He is playing He will be playing

football. football. football.
actions taking place at the same He was playing He is playing He will be playing
time football and she was football and she is football and she will be
watching. watching. watching.

  Past Perfect Simple Present Perfect Future II Simple

Simple

action taking place before a He had won five He has won five He will have won five
certain moment in time; matches until that matches so far. matches by then.
emphasises the result day.

  Past Perfect Present Perfect Future II Progressive

Progressive Progressive

action taking place before a

certain moment in time (and
beyond), emphasises the duration