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