|
Tense |
Affirmative/Negative/Question |
Use |
Signal Words |
|
Present Simple |
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 I talk,��) |
|
Present Continuous |
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 |
|
Past Simple |
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 I talked,��) |
|
Past Continuous |
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 Continuous |
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 Continuous |
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 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-sentence Type I (If you ask her, she will help you.)
assumption: I think, probably, perhaps |
|
Future 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 Continuous |
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 Perfect 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 Perfect Continuous |
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 |
