tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Key Words

Simple A: He speaks. action in the present taking place once, always, every …,
Present N: He does not speak. never or several times. never, normally,
Q: Does he speak? facts. often, seldom,
actions taking place one after another sometimes, usually
action set by a timetable or schedule. if sentences type I (If
I talk, …)
Present A: He is speaking. action taking place in the moment of at the moment, just,
Continuous N: He is not speaking. just now, Listen!,
speaking.
Q: Is he speaking? action taking place only for a limited Look!, now, right now
period of time.
action arranged for the future.
A: He spoke. action in the past taking place once, yesterday, 2 minutes
Past N: He did not speak. never or several times ago, in 1990, the
Simple
Q: Did he speak? actions taking place one after another other day, last Friday
if sentence type II (If
action taking place in the middle of
I talked, …)
another action
A: He was speaking. action going on at a certain time in the when, while, as long
Past N: He was not speaking. past as
Contin Q: Was he speaking? actions taking place at the same time
uous action in the past that is interrupted by
another action
A: He has spoken. putting emphasis on the result already, ever, just,
Presen N: He has not spoken. action that is still going on action that never, not yet, so far,
t Q: Has he spoken? stopped recently finished action that has till now, up to now
Perfect an influence on the present
action that has taken place once, never
Simple or several times before the moment of
speaking
A: He has been speaking. putting emphasis on the course or all day, for 4 years,
Presen N: He has not been duration (not the result) since 1993, how
t speaking. action that recently stopped or is still long?, the whole
Q: Has he been speaking? week
Perfect going on
finished action that influenced the
Contin present
uous
A: He had spoken. action taking place before a certain time already, just, never,
Past N: He had not spoken. in the past not yet, once, until
Perfect Q: Had he spoken? sometimes interchangeable with past that day
if sentence type III (If
Simple perfect progressive
I had talked, …)
putting emphasis only on the fact (not
the duration)

Past A: He had been speaking.

N: He had not been
action taking place before a certain time
in the past
for, since, the whole
day, all day
Perfect speaking. sometimes interchangeable with past
Q: Had he been speaking?
Contin perfect simple
putting emphasis on the duration or
uous course of an action
A: He will speak. action in the future that cannot be in a year, next …,
Future N: He will not speak. influenced tomorrow
I Q: Will he speak? spontaneous decision If-Satz Typ I (If you
ask her, she will
Simple assumption with regard to the future
help you.)
 assumption: I think,
probably, perhaps
A: He is going to speak. decision made for the future in one year, next
Future N: He is not going to speak. conclusion with regard to the future week, tomorrow
I Q: Is he going to speak?
Simple
(going to)

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

uous
A: He will have spoken. action that will be finished at a certain by Monday, in a week
Future N: He will not have spoken. time in the future
II Q: Will he have spoken?
Simple
A: He will have been action taking place before a certain time for …, the last couple
Future speaking. in the future of hours, all day long
II N: He will not have been putting emphasis on the course of an
speaking.
Contin Q: Will he have been
action

uous speaking?

A: He would speak. action that might take place if sentences type II

Conditi N: He would not speak. (If I were you,
onal I Q: Would he speak? I would go home.)
Simple
A: He would be speaking. action that might take place
Conditi N: He would not be putting emphasis on
onal I speaking. the course / duration of the action
Q: Would he be speaking?
Contin
uous
A: He would have spoken. action that might have taken place in the if sentences type III
Conditi N: He would not have past (If I had seen that,
onal II spoken. I would have
Q: Would he have spoken? helped.)
Simple
Conditional II A: He would have been action that might have taken place in the
Continuous speaking. past
N: He would not have been puts emphasis on
speaking. the course / duration of the action
Q: Would he have been
speaking?

Anabatha