English Tenses Part 1

1. Simple Present Tense

• Affirmative : He speaks.
• Negative : He does not speak.
• Question : Does he speak?

Use :

• action in the present taking place once, never or several times
• facts
• actions taking place one after another
• action set by a timetable or schedule

2. Present Progressive

• Affirmative : He is speaking.
• Negative : He is not speaking.
  
• Question : Is he speaking?

Use :

• action taking place in the moment of speaking
• action taking place only for a limited period of time
• action arranged for the future

3. Simple Past

• Affirmative : He spoke.
• Negative : He did not speak
• Question : Did he speak?

Use :

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

4. Past Progressive

• Affirmative : He was speaking.
• Negative : He was not speaking.
• Question : Was he speaking?

Use :

• action going on at a certain time in the past
• actions taking place at the same time
• action in the past that is interrupted by another action

5. Present Perfect Simple

• Affirmative : He has spoken.
• Negative : He has not spoken.
• Question : Has he spoken?

Use :

• putting emphasis on the result
• action that is still going 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

- - - To Be Continued - - -