tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

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

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

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

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

Present A: He has spoken. ▪ putting emphasis on the result already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far,
Perfect N: He has not spoken. ▪ action that is still going on till now, up to now
Simple Q: Has he spoken? ▪ 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. ▪ putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how
Perfect N: He has not been speaking. result) long?, the whole week
Continuous 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. ▪ action taking place before a certain time in the past already, just, never, not yet, once, until
Perfect N: He had not spoken. ▪ sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive that day
Simple Q: Had he spoken? ▪ putting emphasis only on the fact (not the duration) if sentence type III (If I had talked, …)

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

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

Future I A: He is going to speak. ▪ decision made for the future in one year, next week, tomorrow
Simple N: He is not going to speak. ▪ conclusion with regard to the future

(going to) Q: Is he going to speak?

Future I A: He will be speaking. ▪ action that is going on at a certain time in the future in one year, next week, tomorrow
Continuous N: He will not be speaking. ▪ action that is sure to happen in the near future
Q: Will he be speaking?

Future II A: He will have spoken. ▪ action that will be finished at a certain time in the future by Monday, in a week
Simple N: He will not have spoken.
Q: Will he have spoken?

Future II A: He will have been speaking. ▪ action taking place before a certain time in the future for …, the last couple of hours, all day
Continuous N: He will not have been speaking. ▪ putting emphasis on the course of an action long
Q: Will he have been speaking?

Conditional A: He would speak. ▪ action that might take place if sentences type II
I Simple N: He would not speak. (If I were you, I would gohome.)
Q: Would he speak?

Conditional A: He would be speaking. ▪ action that might take place

I N: He would not be speaking. ▪ putting emphasis on the course / durationof the action
Continuous Q: Would he be speaking?

Conditional A: He would have spoken. ▪ action that might have taken place in the past if sentences type III
II Simple N: He would not have spoken. (If I had seen that, I would have helped.)
Q: Would he have spoken?

Conditional A: He would have been speaking. ▪ action that might have taken place in the past
II N: He would not have been ▪ puts emphasis on the course / duration of the action
Continuous
speaking.
Q: Would he have been speaking?