tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

 action in the
present taking always,
place once, never every …,
or several times never,
 facts normally,
A: He speaks.
Simple  actions taking often, seldom,
N: He does not speak.
Present place one after sometimes,
Q: Does he speak?
another usually
 action set by a if sentences
timetable or type I (If I
schedule talk, …)

action taking

place in the
moment of
speaking
 action taking at the moment,
A: He is speaking.
Present place only for a just, just now,
N: He is not speaking.
Progressive limited period of Listen!, Look!,
Q: Is he speaking?
time now, right now
 action arranged
for the future

 action in the past

taking place
once, never or yesterday, 2
several times minutes ago, in
 actions taking 1990, the other
A: He spoke. place one after day, last
Simple Past N: He did not speak. another Friday
Q: Did he speak?
 action taking if sentence type
place in the II (If I
middle of talked, …)
another action

 action going on
at a certain time
in the past
 actions taking
A: He was speaking. place at the same
Past time when, while, as
N: He was not speaking.
Progressive long as
Q: Was he speaking?  action in the past
that is
interrupted by
another action

Present A: He has spoken.  putting emphasis already, ever,

Perfect N: He has not spoken. on the result just, never, not
Simple Q: Has he spoken?  action that is still yet, so far, till
 going on now, up to now
 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

 putting emphasis
on the course or
duration (not the
result)
 action that all day, for 4
Present A: He has been speaking. recently stopped years, since
Perfect N: He has not been speaking. or is still going 1993, how
Progressive Q: Has he been speaking? on long?, the
whole week
 finished action
that influenced
the present

action taking
place before a
certain time in
the past already, just,
 sometimes never, not yet,
A: He had spoken. interchangeable once, until that
Past Perfect with past perfect
N: He had not spoken. day
Simple progressive
Q: Had he spoken? if sentence type
 putting emphasis III (If I had
only on the fact talked, …)
(not the
duration)

action taking
place before a
certain time in
the past
 sometimes
A: He had been speaking. interchangeable for, since, the
Past Perfect with past perfect whole day, all
N: He had not been speaking.
Progressive simple
Q: Had he been speaking? day
 putting emphasis
on the duration
or course of an
action

 action in the in a year,

A: He will speak.
Future I future that next …,
N: He will not speak.
Simple cannot be tomorrow
Q: Will he speak?
influenced If-Satz Typ I
  spontaneous (If you ask her,
decision she will help
 assumption with you.)
regard to the assumption: I
future think,
probably,
perhaps