http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/zeitformen.

htm

(page 11!)

Present Simple Tense

Affirmative
Subject + Verb (1)
I drink
You drink
He drinks
She drinks
It drinks
We drink
You drink
They drink

Subject + do not
(dont) /does not
(doesnt)+ verb (1)
I do not drink
You do not drink
He does not drink
She does not drink
It does not drink
We do not drink
You do not drink
They do not drink

Uses

Habitual actions
repeated actions
Permanent states
Things in general

Negative

Interrogative

Do/Does + Subject + verb (1)?

Do I drink?
Do you drink?
Does he drink?
Does she drink?
Does it drink?
Do we drink?
Do you drink?
Do they drink?

Examples
I go to the gym on Monday and
Friday
My friend often draws nice posters.
The Sun rises in the East.
I like your T-shirt. I want a blue one

Feelings and emotions (like, hate, want,

hope, etc.)

Verb of senses (hear, taste, see, smell,

sound and taste
fixed arrangements, scheduled events

Listen! I hear some music in the

house
The plane flies to London every

Monday.
sequence of actions in the present

First I get up, then I have breakfast.

instructions

Open your book on page 34.

with special verbs

I understand English.

Time markers: every day, always, often, frequently, usually, sometimes, rarely, never

Present Continuous (Progressive) Tense

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

Subject + am/is/are + verb +

ing

Subject + am/is/are + not +

verb + ing

Am/is/are + Subject + verb +

ing?

I am sleeping
You are sleeping

I am not sleeping
You are not sleeping

Am I sleeping?
Are you sleeping?

He is sleeping
She is sleeping
It is sleeping

He is not sleeping
She is not sleeping
It is not sleeping

Is he sleeping?
Is she sleeping?
Is it sleepingl?

We are sleeping
You are sleeping
They are sleeping

We are not sleeping

You are not sleeping
They are not sleeping

Are we sleeping?
Are you sleeping?
Are they sleeping?

Uses

Examples

actions happening at the moment of speaking

Peter is reading a book now.
fixed plan in the near future

She is going to Basel on Saturday.

temporary actions

actions happening around

the moment of speaking (longer actions)

His father is working in Rome this month.

My friend is preparing for his exams.

trends
repeated actions which are irritating to the
speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

More and more people are using their

computers to listen to music.
Andrew is always coming late.

Time markers and signal words: now, right now, at the moment, Look!
Listen!

Past Simple Tense

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

Subject + didnt + verb (1)

Did I play /go?

Did you play / go?
Did + Subject + verb (1)?

Regular verbs Irregular verbs

Subject + verb Subject + verb
(2)
(2)
I played
You played
He played
She played
It played

I went
You went
He went
She went
It went

I did not play/ go

You did not play / go
He did not play /go
She did not play / go
It did not play / go

Did he play / go?

Did she play / go?
Did it play / go?
Did we play / go?
Did you play / go?

We played
You played
They played

We went
You went
They went

We did not play / go

You did not play / go
They did not play / go

Uses

Did they play / go?

Examples

action finished in the past

I visited Berlin last week.

series of completed actions in the past

First I got up, then I had breakfast.

together with the Past

Progressive/Continuous - The Simple Past
interrupted an action which was in progress in
the past.

They were playing cards when the

telephone rang.

Time markers: yesterday, last week, a month ago, in 2002

Past Continuous Tense

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

Subject + was/were + verb +

ing

Subject + wasnt/werent +

Was/were + verb + ing?

I was dancing
You were dancing

verb + ing
I was not dancing
You were not dancing

Was I dancing?
Were you dancing?

He was not dancing

She was not dancing
It was not dancing

Was he dancing?
Was she dancing?
Was it dancing?

We were not dancing

You were not dancing
They were not dancing

Were we dancing?
Were you dancing?
Were they dancing?

He was dancing
She was dancing
It was dancing
We were dancing
You were dancing
They were dancing

Uses
action that was in progress at a special
time in the past

two actions were happening at the

same time (the actions do not
influence each other)

together with the Simple Past

repeated actions irritating the speaker

(with always, constantly, forever)

Time markers: while

Examples
Peter was reading a book yesterday
evening.

Anne was writing a letter while

Steve was reading the New York
Times.
While we were sitting at the
breakfast table, the telephone rang.
(The action in the Simple Past
interrupted the action in the Past
Progressive.)
Andrew was always coming late. (I
don't like it.)

Present Perfect Simple Tense

Affirmative
Subject + have/has + verb
(3)

Negative
Subject + haven/t/hasnt + verb
(3)

I have eaten
You have eaten
He has eaten
She has eaten
It has eaten
We have eaten
You have eaten
They have eaten

State beginning in the past and still

Have I eaten?
Have you eaten ?
Has he eaten?
Has she eaten?
Has it eaten?

He has not eaten

She has not eaten
It has not eaten

Have we eaten?
Have you eaten?
Have they eaten?

We have not eaten

You have not eaten
They have not eaten

Result of an action in the past is important in

the present. It is not important when this action
happened. When we use a specific time in the
past - e.g. yesterday - then we use the Simple
Past.)
Recently completed actions

Have/has + Subject + verb (3)?

I have not eaten

You have not eaten

Uses

Interrogative

Examples

I have cleaned my room. (It is

clean now.)
Has Peggy ever been to Tokyo?

He has just played handball.

We have lived in Canada since

continuing - mostly with since (point of time) or 1986. (We still live there.)
for (period of time)

together with lately, recently, yet

I have been to London recently. (no

specific point of time)
He has not written the e-mail yet. (He
has not done it.)

Time markers: just, yet, never, already, ever, so far, up to now, recently, since,
for

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Affirmative

Negative

Subject + have/has + been + Subject + havent/hasnt + been

verb + ing
+ verb + ing

Interrogative
Have/has + subject + verb +
ing?

I have been waiting

You have been waiting

I have not been waiting

You have not been waiting

Have I been waiting?

Have you been waiting ?

He has been waiting

She has been waiting
It has been waiting

He has not been waiting

She has not been waiting
It has not been waiting

Has he been waiting?

Has she been waiting?
Has it been waiting?

We have been waiting

You have been waiting
They have been waiting

We have not been waiting

You have not been waiting
They have not been waiting

Have we been waiting?

Have you been waiting?
Have they been waiting?

Uses

Examples

Actions beginning in the past and still

continuing (focus is on the action) - mostly
with since (point of time) or for (period of
time)

Recently completed actions (focus is

on the action)

I have been waiting for you for

three hours. (It was a long time.)

She has been watching too many

videos. (It was too much time.)
.

Time markers: all day, the whole day, since, for, Questions with how long

Past Perfect Simple Tense

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

Subject + had + verb (3)

Subject + hadnt + verb (3)

Had + Subject + verb (3)?

I had eaten
You had eaten

I had not eaten

You had not eaten

Had I eaten?
Had you eaten ?

He had eaten
She had eaten

He had not eaten

She had not eaten

Had he eaten?
Had she eaten?

It had eaten

It had not eaten

Had it eaten?

We had eaten
You had eaten
They had eaten

We had not eaten

You had not eaten
They had not eaten

Had we eaten?
Had you eaten?
Had they eaten?

Uses

Examples

Mary had read the book before she

watched a film.
After Amy had gone home it started to
When two past actions are combined - the first
action, which was completed before the second one rain.
began, is put into Past Perfect.
Together with the Simple Past

the past equivalent of the Present

Perfect

He had played hockey.

Time markers: There are no unambiguous "signal words" or time markers in the Past
Perfect. We often use the Past Perfect together with the Simple Past. Watch out when two
actions in the past are combined:
first action (completed before the second one began): Past Perfect
second action: Simple Past

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

I had been waiting

You had been waiting

I had not been waiting

You had not been waiting

Had I been waiting?

Had you been waiting ?

He had been waiting

She had been waiting
It had been waiting

He had not been waiting

She had not been waiting
It had not been waiting

Had he been waiting?

Had she been waiting?
Had it been waiting?

We had been waiting

You had been waiting
They had been waiting

We had not been waiting

You had not been waiting
They had not been waiting

Had we been waiting?

Had you been waiting?
Had they been waiting?

Uses
Habitual actions how long something had
been happening before something else
happened

Examples
I had been waiting for Susan for 2
hours when she arrived.

Going to future
Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

I am going to travel
You are going to travel

I am not going to travel

You are not going to travel

Am I going to travel ?
Are you going to travel?

He is going to travel
She is going to travel
It is going to travel

He is not going to travel

She is not going to travel
It is not going to travel

Is he going to travel?
Is she going to travel?
Is it going to travel?

We are going to travel

You are going to travel
They are going to travel

We are not going to travel

You are not going to travel
They are not going to travel

Are we going to travel?

Are you going to travel?
Are they going to travel?

Uses

Examples

planned actions in the future

We are going to sing at the party.

They are going to fly to South Africa.

The Sun Look at that car! It is going

to crash into the yellow one.

You are certain that sth. is going to

happen in the future.

Time markers: There are no "clear" signal words or time markers for the going tofuture.

So analyse the type of the action in the sentence. Then decide which future form should be used
in the sentence.

Future Simple Tense

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

I will survive
You will survive

I will not survive

You will not survive

Will I survive?
Will you survive?

He will survive
She will survive
It will survive

He will not survive

She will not survive
It will not survive

Will he survive?
Will she survive?
Will it survive?

We will survive
You will survive
They will survive

We will not survive

You will not survive
They will not survive

Will we survive?
Will you survive?
Will they survive?

Uses

Habitual actions
repeated actions

Examples
I go to the gym on Monday and
Friday
My friend often draws nice posters.

The sun will shine tomorrow.

Future actions happen without the
speaker's intention (birthday, weather, Peter will be 15 next Tuesday.
etc.)

Predictions, assumptions (I think, I hope,

I think Sue will arrive in Paris at 6
I'm sure, I'm afraid)
pm.

Spontaneous actions (not planned)

Hang on! I'll have a word with you.

Time markers: There are no "clear" signal words or time markers for the will-future.
Words like "tomorrow" only indicate that a future form is used. So you have to think of the type
of the action in the sentence. Then you can decide which future form should be used in the
sentence.

Future Continuous Tense

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

I will be waiting
You will be waiting

I will not be waiting

You will not be waiting

Will I be waiting?
Will you be waiting ?

He will be waiting
She will be waiting
It will be waiting

He will not be waiting

She will not be waiting
It will not be waiting

Will he be waiting?
Will she be waiting?
Will it be waiting?

We will be waiting
You will be waiting
They will be waiting

We will not be waiting

You will not be waiting
They will not be waiting

Uses

Will we be waiting?
Will you be waiting?
Will they be waiting?

Examples

An action will be in progress at a certain

When I come to school, the other
time in the future. This action has begun before kids will be waiting for me.
the certain time.

Something happens because it normally

We'll be going to the disco on
happens.
Saturday.

Time markers: for example: tomorrow, on Saturday etc.

Future Perfect Simple Tense

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

I will have eaten

You will have eaten

I will not have eaten

You will not have eaten

Will I have eaten?

Will you have eaten ?

He will have eaten

She will have eaten
It will have eaten

He will not have eaten

She will not have eaten
It will not have eaten

Will he have eaten?

Will she have eaten?
Will it have eaten?

We will have eaten

You will have eaten
They will have eaten

We will not have eaten

You will not have eaten
They will not have eaten

Will we have eaten?

Will you have eaten?
Will they have eaten?

Uses
something will already have happened
before a certain time in the future

Examples
I will have written the letter by
tomorrow.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

I will have been waiting

You will have been waiting

I will not have been waiting

Will I have been waiting?
You will not have been waiting Will you have been waiting ?

He will have been waiting

She will have been waiting
It will have been waiting

He will not have been waiting

She will not have been waiting
It will not have been waiting

We will have been waiting

You will have been waiting
They will have been waiting

We will not have been waiting Will we have been waiting?

You will not have been waiting Will you have been waiting?
They will not have been
Will they have been waiting?
waiting

Uses

Will he have been waiting?

Will she have been waiting?
Will it have been waiting?

Examples

something that will have already begun and

I will have been swimming for an
hour
by 6.30.
will be continuing in the future

Simple Conditional (I)

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

I would drink
You would drink

I would not drink

You would not drink

Would I drink?
Would you drink?

He would drink
She would drink
It would drink

He would not drink

She would not drink
It would not drink

Would he drink?
Would she drink?
Would it drink?

We would drink
You would drink
They would drink

We would not drink

You would not drink
They would not drink

Would we drink?
Would you drink?
Would they drink?

Uses
We use it for something that might happen.
We use it in the main clause in type II of the
Conditional sentences.

Examples
I would fly to Sydney if I had the
money.

Conditional Progressive
Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

I would be sleeping
You would be sleeping

I would not be sleeping

You would not be sleeping

Would I be sleeping?
Would you be sleeping?

He would be sleeping
She would be sleeping
It would be sleeping

He would not be sleeping

She would not be sleeping
It would not be sleeping

Would he be sleeping?
Would she be sleeping?
Would it be sleeping?

We would be sleeping
You would be sleeping
They would be sleeping

We would not be sleeping

You would not be sleeping
They would not be sleeping

Would we be sleeping?
Would you be sleeping?
Would they be sleeping?

Uses

Examples

I would be traveling around

the world.

If he had a lot of money, he would be

The conditional progressive refers to an traveling
action that might take place.
around the world.
Conditional progressive is used for
If I were free, I would be watching the
actions that might take place and puts
movie.
emphasis on the course of an action. It is
If the music were better, everybody would
used in the main clause of conditional
be dancing.
sentences type 2

I would be having a good time if I

met my friends.

Conditional Perfect
Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

I would have eaten

You would have eaten

I would not have eaten

You would not have eaten

Would I have eaten?

Would you have eaten?

He would have eaten

She would have eaten
It would have eaten

He would not have eaten

She would not have eaten
It would not have eaten

Would he have eaten?

Would she have eaten?
Would it have eaten?
Would we have eaten?

We would have eaten

You would have eaten
They would have eaten

We would not have eaten

You would not have eaten
They would not have eaten

Uses

Would you have eaten?

Would they have eaten?

Examples

We use it for something that might have

happened in the past.
We use it in the main clause in type III of
the if clauses.

I would have phoned you if you

hadn't switched your mobile off.

Conditional Perfect Progressive

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

I would have been sleeping I would not have been sleeping Would I have been sleeping?
You would have been sleeping
You would not have been
Would you have been sleeping?

sleeping
He would have been sleeping
She would have been sleeping
It would have been sleeping

Would he have been sleeping?

Would she have been sleeping?
Would it have been sleeping?

He would not have been

sleeping
She would not have been
We would have been sleeping
Would we have been sleeping?
sleeping
You would have been sleeping It would not have been sleeping Would you have been sleeping?
They would have been
Would they have been sleeping?
sleeping
We would not have been
sleeping
You would not have been
sleeping
They would not have been
sleeping

Uses

Examples

We use it in the main clause in type III of the

Maria would have been singing if
there had been more people in the
if clauses.
church.