Transcript

Table of English Tenses

tense
Simple
Present

Affirmative/Negative/Question
A: He speaks.
N: He does not speak.
Q: Does he speak?

Present
A: He is speaking.
Progressive N: He is not speaking.
Q: Is he speaking?

Use
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



action taking place in the moment of
speaking

Signal Words
always, every …, never, normally, often,
seldom, sometimes, usually
if sentences type I (If I talk, …)

at the moment, just, just now, Listen!,
Look!, now, right now

action taking place only for a limited period of


time

Simple Past A: He spoke.
N: He did not speak.
Q: Did he speak?



action arranged for the future



action in the past taking placeonce, never or
several times



actions taking place one after another



action taking place in the middle of another

yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the
other day, last Friday
if sentence type II (If Italked, …)

action
Past
A: He was speaking.
Progressive 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

when, while, as long as

action
Present
Perfect
Simple

A: He has spoken.
N: He has not spoken.
Q: Has he spoken?



putting emphasis on theresult



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

tomorrow future  action that is sure to happen in the near future  action that will be finished at a certain time in Future II A: He will have been speaking. since. probably. N: He will not speak. …) sometimes interchangeable with past perfect  progressive putting emphasis only on thefact (not the  duration) Past Perfect A: He had been speaking. N: He will not have spoken. Progressive Q: Has he been speaking? Past Perfect A: He had spoken.  Progressive N: He will not have been speaking. the whole week the result)  action that recently stopped or is still going on  finished action that influenced the present  action taking place before a certain time in the past already. next week. until that day if sentence type III (If I had talked. tomorrow (going to) Future I A: He will be speaking. in a week the future action taking place before a certain time in the future putting emphasis on thecourse of an action for …. next …. since 1993. tomorrow If-Satz Typ I (If you ask her. not yet. next week. perhaps in one year. just. Simple N: He had not spoken. Progressive N: He will not be speaking. the last couple of hours. Q: Will he be speaking? Future II Simple A: He will have spoken. the whole day. never. how long?. Progressive N: He had not been speaking.Present A: He has been speaking. Q: Had he spoken?  putting emphasis on thecourse or duration (not all day. Q: Will he speak? A: He is going to speak. all day long . Q: Will he have spoken? in one year. for 4 years. Q: Will he have been speaking?  by Monday. once. all day past  sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple  putting emphasis on theduration or course of an action Future I Simple Future I Simple A: He will speak. Q: Is he going to speak?  action in the future that cannot be influenced  spontaneous decision  assumption with regard to the future  decision made for the future  conclusion with regard to the future  action that is going on at a certain time in the in a year. she will help you. Perfect N: He has not been speaking. N: He is not going to speak. Q: Had he been speaking? action taking place before a certain time in the  for.) assumption: I think.