Grammar Reminder: Review of verb tenses in English

(Adapted from http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/tenses)

Tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

Simple present A: He/She speaks English. - action in the present every

N: He/She doesn’t (does not) speak - taking place once, never or day/week/month/
English. several times etc., always,
Q: Does he/she speak English? - facts usually, often,
- actions taking place one normally,
after another sometimes, rarely,
- action set by a timetable or never
schedule

Present continuous
A: He/She is reading. - action taking place in the at the moment,
N: He/She isn’t (is not) reading. moment of speaking now, right now,
Q: Is he/she reading? - action taking place only for just now, Listen!,
a limited period of time Look!
- action arranged for the
future

Past simple A: He/She studied. - completed action in the past yesterday, two
N: He/She didn’t (did not) study. - actions taking place one minutes ago, in
Q: Did he/she study? after another 1990, the other
- actions taking place in the day, last Monday/
middle of another action weekend/etc.

Past continuous
A: He/She was cooking. - action going on at a certain when, while, as
N: He/She wasn’t (was not) time in the past long as
cooking. - actions taking place at the
Q: Was he/she cooking? same time
- action in the past that is
interrupted by another
action

Present perfect simple
A: He/She has eaten.
N: He/She hasn’t (has not) eaten.
Q: Has he/she eaten?
- putting emphasis on the
result
- action that is still going on
(started in the past and
continues in the present)
- action that stopped recently
already, ever, just,
never, not yet, so
far, until now, up
to now

Past perfect simple A: He/She had left. - action taking place before a already, just, never,
N: He/She hadn’t (had not) left. certain time in the past not yet, once, until
Q: Had he/she left? that day