tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

always, every …, never, normally, often,

Simple A: He speaks.
Present N: He does not speak.
Q: Does he speak?
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?
 action in the present taking place regularly, never or several seldom, sometimes, usually
times if sentences type I (If I talk, …)
 facts
 actions taking place one after another
 action set by a timetable or schedule
at the moment, just, just now, Listen!, Look!,
 action taking place in the moment of speaking now, right now
 action taking place only for a limited period of time
 action arranged for the future
yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other
 action in the past taking place once, never or several times day, last Friday
 actions taking place one after another if sentence type II (If I talked, …)

 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 time in the past
Q: Was he speaking?  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, never, not yet, so far, till
Perfect N: He has not spoken.  putting emphasis on the result now, up to now
Simple Q: Has he spoken?  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, since 1993, how long?,
Perfect N: He has not been speaking.  putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the result) the whole week
Progressive Q: Has he been speaking?  action that recently stopped or is still going on
 finished action that influenced the present
Past A: He had spoken. already, just, never, not yet, once, until that
Perfect N: He had not spoken.  action taking place before a certain time in the past day
Simple Q: Had he spoken?  sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive if sentence type III (If I had talked, …)

 putting emphasis only on the fact (not the duration)

Past A: He had been speaking. for, since, the whole day, all day
Perfect N: He had not been speaking.  action taking place before a certain time in the past
Progressive Q: Had he been speaking?  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 …, tomorrow
Simple N: He will not speak.  action in the future that cannot be influenced If-Satz Typ I (If you ask her, she will
Q: Will he speak?  spontaneous decision help you.)
assumption: I think, probably, perhaps
 assumption with regard to the future
Future I A: He is going to speak. in one year, next week, tomorrow
Simple N: He is not going to speak.  decision made for the future
Q: Is he going to speak?  conclusion with regard to the future
(going to)

Future I A: He will be speaking. in one year, next week, tomorrow

Progressive N: He will not be speaking.  action that is going on at a certain time in the future
Q: Will he be speaking?  action that is sure to happen in the near future
Future II A: He will have spoken. by Monday, in a week
 action that will be finished at a certain time in the future
Simple N: He will not have spoken.
Q: Will he have spoken?
Future II A: He will have been speaking. for …, the last couple of hours, all day long
Progressive N: He will not have been speaking.  action taking place before a certain time in the future
Q: Will he have been speaking?  putting emphasis on the course of an action
Conditiona A: He would speak. if sentences type II
l I Simple N: He would not speak.  action that might take place (If I were you, I would go home.)
Q: Would he speak?
Conditiona A: He would be speaking.  
lI N: He would not be speaking.  action that might take place
Progressive Q: Would he be speaking?  putting emphasis on the course / duration of the action
Conditiona A: He would have spoken. if sentences type III
l II Simple N: He would not have spoken.  action that might have taken place in the past (If I had seen that, I would have helped.)
Q: Would he have spoken?
Conditiona A: He would have been speaking.  
l II N: He would not have been  action that might have taken place in the past
Progressive speaking.  puts emphasis on the course / duration of the action
Q: Would he have been speaking?
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