Cande

Legend



Course /
Duration

actions that suddenly take place
action that started before a certain moment and lasts beyond that
moment

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actions taking place at the same time
action taking place before a certain moment in time

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puts emphasis on the result

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Result



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period of time

actions that happen one after another

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moment in time

actionthat takes place once, never or several times

action taking place before a certain moment in time



puts emphasis on the course or duration of the action

Tense

Affirmative/Negative/Question

Use

A: He will speak.
N: He will not speak.
Q: W ill he speak?



action taking place only for a limited period of time
action arranged for the future



action in the pasttaking place once, never or several
times
actions taking place one after another
action taking place in the middle of another action



action going on at a certain time in the past

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action in the past that is interrupted by another action



putting emphasis on the result



action that is still going on
action that stopped recently
finished action that has an influence onthe present
action that has taken place once, never or several times
before the moment of speaking

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action in the future that cannot be influenced

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spontaneous decision

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assumption with regard to the future

always,
every …,
never,
normally,
often,
seldom,
sometimes,
usually
if sentences
type I (If
I talk, …)

actions taking place at the same time


FutureI
Simple

action taking place in the moment of speaking



A: He has spoken.
N: He has not spoken.
Q: Has he spoken?

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

Present
Perfect
Simple

A: He was speaking.
N: He was not speaking.
Q: W as he speaking?

action set by a timetable or schedule

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Past
Progressive

actions taking place one after another



A: He spoke.
N: He did not speak.
Q: Did hespeak?

facts



Simple Past

A: He is speaking.
N: He is not speaking.
Q: Is he speaking?

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Present
Progressive

action in the present taking place once, never or
several times



A: He speaks.
N: He does not speak.
Q: Does he speak?





Simple
Present

Signal
Words

at the
moment,
just, just
now,
Listen!,
Look!, now,
right now
yesterday, 2minutes
ago, in
1990, the
other day,
last Friday
if sentence
type II (If
Italked, …)
when, while,
as long as

already,
ever, just,
never, not
yet, so far,
till now, up
to now

in a year,
next …,
tomorrow
If-Satz Typ I
(If you ask
her, shewill
help you.)
assumption:
I think,
probably,
perhaps

Future I
Simple

A: He is going to speak.
N: He is not going to speak.Q: Is he going to speak?



decision made for the future

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conclusion with regard to the future

A: He has been speaking.
N: He has not been speaking.
Q: Has he been speaking?



putting emphasis on the course or duration(not the
result)



action that recently stopped or is still going on



finished action that influenced the present

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action taking placebefore a certain time in the past

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sometimes interchangeable with past perfect
progressive



putting emphasis only on the fact (not the duration)



action taking place before a certain time in the past



sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple



putting emphasis on the duration or courseof an action



action in the future that cannot be influenced

spontaneous decision



assumption with regard to the future

A: He is going to speak.
N: He is not going to speak.
Q: Is he going to speak?



decision made for the future

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conclusion with regard to the future

A: He will be speaking.
N: He will not be speaking.
Q: W ill he be speaking?



action that is going on at a certain time in the future

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action...