Tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

always, every , never, normally,

1. Present Simple
+ S + V - s, es (III sg)
Do/Does + S + V 1
S
?
often, seldom, sometimes, usually,
- action in the present taking place once, never or rarely, from time to time,
once/twice a week/a month, on
A: He speaks. several times
Monday, in winter
N: He does not speak. if sentences type I (If I talk, )
- facts
Q: Does he speak?
- actions taking place one after another

- S + do/does + not + V 1 - action set by a timetable or schedule

S - non-progressive verbs

2. Present Continuous at the moment, just, just now,

Listen!, Look!, now, right now
+ S + am/is/are + V ing A: He is speaking. - action taking place in the moment of speaking
N: He is not speaking.
Am/Is/Are + S + V ing Q: Is he speaking? - action taking place only for a limited period of time
S
?
- action arranged for the future
- S + am/is/are + not + V ing
S
3. Past Simple yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990,
- action in the past taking place once, never or the other day, last Friday
+ S + V 2/ed A: He spoke. several times if sentence type II (If I talked, )
N: He did not speak.
- actions taking place one after another
Did + S + V 1 Q: Did he speak?
?
S
- action taking place in the middle of another action
- S + did + not + V 1
S
4. Past Continuous in clauses with when, while, as
- action going on at a certain time in the past long as, at this time yesterday,
+ S + was/were + V ing A: He was speaking. - actions taking place at the same time at two oclock yesterday
N: He was not speaking.
Was/were+ S + V ing Q: Was he speaking? - action in the past that is interrupted by another
?
S
action
- S + was/were + not + V -ing

S
5. Present Perfect Simple already, ever, just, never, not yet, so
- putting emphasis on the result far, till now, up to now, lately,
+ S + have/has + V 3/ed A: He has spoken. - action that stopped recently recently, the last years
N: He has not spoken.
? Have/has + S + V 3/ed Q: Has he spoken? - finished action that has an influence on the present
S
- - action that has taken place once, never or several
S + have/has + not + V 3/ed
S times before the moment of speaking

6. Present Perfect Continuous all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how
- putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the long?, the whole week
+ S + have/has + been + V ing A: He has been speaking. result)
N: He has not been speaking.
? - action that recently stopped or is still going on
S Have/has + S + been + V ing Q: Has he been speaking?
- finished action that influenced the present
- S + have/has + not + been + V ing
S
7. Past Perfect Simple already, just, never, not yet, once,
- action taking place before a certain time in the past until that day, after after, before
+ S + had + V 3/ed A: He had spoken. - sometimes interchangeable with past perfect before
N: He had not spoken. if sentence type III (If I had
? progressive
S Had + S + V 3/ed Q: Had he spoken? talked, )
- putting emphasis only on the fact (not the duration)
- S + had + not + V 3/ed
S
8. Past Perfect Continuous for, since, the whole day, all day,
- action taking place before a certain time in the past How long?
+ S + had + been + V ing A: He had been speaking. - sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple
N: He had not been speaking.
? Had + S + been + V ing Q: Had he been speaking? - putting emphasis on the duration or course of an
S
action
- S + had + not + been + V ing
S
9a. Future I Simple in a year, next , tomorrow
S + shall/will + V 1 - action in the future that cannot be influenced
+ ? Shall/will + S + V 1 A: He will speak. If-Sentence type I (If you ask her,
N: He will not speak. - spontaneous decision she will help you.)
S + shall/will + V 1 Q: Will he speak? assumption: I think, probably,
- - assumption with regard to the future
S perhaps
S
9b. Going to Future A: He is going to speak. in one year, next week, tomorrow
N: He is not going to speak. - decision made for the future
+ S + am/is/are + going to + V 1 Q: Is he going to speak? - conclusion with regard to the future

S Future I Continuous
10. A: He will be speaking. at this time tomorrow, at 6 oclock
N: He will not be speaking. - action that is going on at a certain time in the future tomorrow
+ S + will + be + V ing Q: Will he be speaking? - action that is sure to happen in the near future