| Tense | Affirmative/Negative/Question | Use | Signal Words |
| Simple Present |
A: He speaks. N: He does not speak. Q: Does he speak? |
- action in the present taking place once, never or several times - facts - actions taking place one after another - action set by a timetable or schedule |
always, every
, never, normally, often, seldom, sometimes, usually if sentences type I (If Italk, ) |
| Present Progressive |
A: He is speaking. N: He is not speaking. Q: Is he speaking? |
- action taking place in the moment of speaking - action taking place only for a limited period of time - action arranged for the future |
at the moment, just, just now, Listen!, Look!, now, right now |
| Simple Past |
A: He spoke. N: He did not speak. Q: Did he speak? |
- action in the past taking place once, never or several times - actions taking place one after another - action taking place in the middle of another action |
yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday if sentence type II (If Italked, ) |
| Past Progressive |
A: He was speaking. N: He was not speaking. Q: Was he speaking? |
- action going on at a certain time in the past - actions taking place at the same time - action in the past that is interrupted by another action |
when, while, as long as |
| Present Perfect Simple |
A: He has spoken. N: He has not spoken. Q: Has he spoken? |
- putting emphasis on the result - 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 |
already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now |
| Present Perfect Progressive |
A: He has been speaking. N: He has not been speaking. Q: Has he been speaking? |
- putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the result) - action that recently stopped or is still going on - finished action that influenced the present |
all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?, the whole week |
| Past Perfect Simple |
A: He had spoken. N: He had not spoken. Q: Had he spoken? |
- action taking place before a certain time in the past - sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive - putting emphasis only on the fact (not the duration) |
already, just, never, not yet, once, until that day if sentence type III (If I had talked, ) |
| Past Perfect Progressive |
A: He had been speaking. N: He had not been speaking. Q: Had he been speaking? |
- action taking place before a certain time in the past - sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple - putting emphasis on the duration or course of an action |
for, since, the whole day, all day |
| Future I Simple |
A: He will speak. N: He will not speak. Q: Will he speak? |
- action in the future that cannot be influenced - spontaneous decision - assumption with regard to the future |
in a year, next
, tomorrow If-Satz Typ I (If you ask her, she will help you.) assumption: I think, probably, perhaps |
|
Future I Simple (going to) |
A: He is going to speak. N: He is not going to speak. Q: Is he going to speak? |
- decision made for the future - conclusion with regard to the future |
in one year, next week, tomorrow |
| Future I Progressive |
A: He will be speaking. N: He will not be speaking. Q: Will he be speaking? |
- action that is going on at a certain time in the future - action that is sure to happen in the near future |
in one year, next week, tomorrow |
| Future II Simple |
A: He will have spoken. N: He will not have spoken. Q: Will he have spoken? |
- action that will be finished at a certain time in the future | by Monday, in a week |
| Future II Progressive |
A: He will have been speaking. N: He will not have been speaking. Q: Will he have been speaking? |
- action taking place before a certain time in the future - putting emphasis on the course of an action |
for , the last couple of hours, all day long |
| Conditional I Simple |
A: He would speak. N: He would not speak. Q: Would he speak? |
- action that might take place |
if sentences type II (If I were you, I would gohome.) |
| Conditional I Progressive |
A: He would be speaking. N: He would not be speaking. Q: Would he be speaking? |
- action that might take place - putting emphasis on the course /duration of the action |
|
| Conditional II Simple |
A: He would have spoken. N: He would not have spoken. Q: Would he have spoken? |
- action that might have taken place in the past |
if sentences type III (If I had seen that, I would have helped.) |
| Conditional II Progressive |
A: He would have been speaking. N: He would not have been speaking. Q: Would he have been speaking? |
- action that might have taken place in the past - puts emphasis on the course / durationof the action |