Tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words
Routines / habits always, every ,
A: He speaks. facts never, normally,
Simple Present N: He does not speak. action set by a often, seldom,
Q: Does he speak? timetable or schedule sometimes,
usually
action taking place in
this moment
action taking place at the moment,
A: He is speaking.
only for a limited just, just now,
Present Progressive N: He is not speaking.
period of time Listen!, Look!,
Q: Is he speaking?
action arranged for now, right now
the future
action in the past
taking place once or yesterday, 2
A: He spoke. several times minutes ago, in
Simple Past N: He did not speak. action taking place in 1990, the other
Q: Did he speak? the middle of another day, last Friday
action
action going on at a
certain time in past
actions taking place at
A: He was speaking.
the same time when, while, as
Past Progressive N: He was not speaking.
action in the past that long as
Q: Was he speaking?
is interrupted by
another action
action that stopped
recently
finished action that already, ever, just,
A: He has spoken.
has an influence on never, not yet, so
Present Perfect N: He has not spoken.
the present far, till now, up to
Q: Has he spoken
action that expresses now
experiences
putting emphasis on
all day, for 4
A: He has been speaking. the course or duration
Present Perfect years, since 1993,
N: He has not been speaking. finished action that
Progressive how long?, the
Q: Has he been speaking? influenced the present
whole week
action taking place
before a certain time already, just,
A: He had spoken. in the past never, not yet,
Past Perfect Simple N: He had not spoken. putting emphasis only once, until that
Q: Had he spoken? on the fact (not the day
duration)
action taking place
before a certain time
A: He had been speaking. in the past
Past Perfect for, since, the
N: He had not been speaking. putting emphasis on
Progressive whole day, all day
Q: Had he been speaking? the duration or course
of an action
action in the future
that cannot be
A: He will speak. influenced in a year, next ,
Future Simple N: He will not speak. spontaneous decision tomorrow
Q: Will he speak? assumption with
regard to the future
decision made for the
Future Simple A: He is going to speak. future
in one year, next
N: He is not going to speak. conclusion with
week, tomorrow
Q: Is he going to speak? regard to the future
action that is going on
at a certain time in the
A: He will be speaking. future
in one year, next
Future Progressive N: He will not be speaking. action that is sure to
week, tomorrow
Q: Will he be speaking? happen in the near
future
action that will be
A: He will have spoken.
finished at a certain by Monday, in a
Future Perfect N: He will not have spoken.
time in the future week
Q: Will he have spoken?
action taking place
before a certain time
A: He will have been speaking.
in the future for , the last
Future Perfect N: He will not have been
putting emphasis on couple of hours,
Progressive speaking.
the course of an all day long
Q: Will he have been speaking?
action
