ENGLISH TENSES

Tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

Simple Present A: He speaks. • action in the present
还在发生，事实 N: He does not speak. taking place once, never
Q: Does he speak? or several times
• facts
• actions taking place
one after another
always, every …, never,
normally, often, seldom,
sometimes, usually
if sentences type I (If I talk, …)

• action set by a
timetable or schedule
Present Progressive A: He is speaking. • action taking place in at the moment, just, just now,
(Continuous) N: He is not speaking. the moment of speaking Listen!, Look!, now, right now
“正在”发生 Q: Is he speaking? • action taking place only
for a limited period of
time

• action arranged for the

future
Simple Past A: He spoke. • action in the past
过去式 N: He did not speak. taking place once, never
Q: Did he speak? or several times
• actions taking place
one after another
yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in
1990, the other day, last
Friday
if sentence type II (If I
talked, …)

• action taking place in

the middle of another
action
Past Progressive A: He was speaking. • action going on at a when, while, as long as
(Continuous) N: He was not speaking. certain time in the past
过去式（正在发生），通常用 Q: Was he speaking? • actions taking place at
于描述当时的情景 the same time

• action in the past that

is interrupted by another
action
Present Perfect Simple A: He has spoken. • putting emphasis on already, ever, just, never, not
强调“已经”发生了 N: He has not spoken. the result yet, so far, till now, up to now
用 has/ have 是因为刚发生不 Q: Has he spoken? • action that is still going
很久。 on
• action that stopped
recently
• 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 Perfect A: He has been speaking. • putting emphasis on all day, for 4 years, since
Progressive N: He has not been speaking. the course or duration 1993, how long?, the whole
强调“从之前持续到现在” Q: Has he been speaking? (not the result) week
• action that recently
stopped or is still going on

• finished action that

influenced the present
Past Perfect Simple A: He had spoken. • action taking place already, just, never, not yet,
强调“已经”发生了 N: He had not spoken. before a certain time in once, until that day
用 had 是因为发生了一段时间。 Q: Had he spoken? the past if sentence type III (If I had
• sometimes talked, …)
interchangeable with past
perfect progressive

• putting emphasis only

on the fact (not the
duration)
Past Perfect Progressive A: He had been speaking. • action taking place for, since, the whole day, all
强调“从之前持续到现在”（过 N: He had not been speaking. before a certain time in day
去式） Q: Had he been speaking? the past
用于描述当时的情景 • sometimes
interchangeable with past
perfect simple

Future (1) Simple A: He will speak.
“将会” N: He will not speak.
Q: Will he speak?
Future (1) Simple (Going A: He is going to speak.
to) N: He is not going to speak.
• putting emphasis on
the duration or course of
an action
• action in the future that
cannot be influenced
• spontaneous decision
• assumption with regard
to the future
• decision made for the
in a year, next …, tomorrow
If-Satz Typ I (If you ask her,
she will help you.)
assumption: I think, probably,
perhaps
in one year, next week,
tomorrow
“将会”
Future (1) Progressive
“将会”，带着“未来发生着”的
情景
Future (2) Simple
Future (2) Progressive
Conditional (1) Simple
Conditional (1) Progressive
Conditional (2) Simple
Conditional (2) Progressive
Q: Is he going to speak?
A: He will be speaking.
N: He will not be speaking.
Q: Will he be speaking?
A: He will have spoken.
N: He will not have spoken.
Q: Will he have spoken?
A: He will have been speaking.
N: He will not have been
speaking.
Q: Will he have been speaking?
A: He would speak.
N: He would not speak.
Q: Would he speak?
A: He would be speaking.
N: He would not be speaking.
Q: Would he be speaking?
A: He would have spoken.
N: He would not have spoken.
Q: Would he have spoken?
A: He would have been
speaking.
N: He would not have been
speaking.
Q: Would he have been
speaking?
future
• conclusion with regard
to the future
• action that is going on in one year, next week,
at a certain time in the tomorrow
future
• action that is sure to
happen in the near future
• action that will be by Monday, in a week
finished at a certain time
in the future
• action taking place for …, the last couple of
before a certain time in hours, all day long
the future
• putting emphasis on
the course of an action
• action that might take if sentences type II
place (If I were you, I would go
home.)
• action that might take
place
• putting emphasis on
the course / duration of
the action
• action that might have if sentences type III
taken place in the past (If I had seen that, I would
have helped.)
• action that might have
taken place in the past
• puts emphasis on the
course / duration of the
action