形式
现在一般时式 he works
进行式 he is working
完成式 he has worked
完成进行式 he has been working
过去一般式 he worked
进行式 he was working
完成式 he had worked
完成进行式 he had been working
将来一般式 he will work
进行式 he will be working
完成式 he will have worked
完成进行式 he will have been working
现在 条件语气 he would work
条件进行式 he would be working
完成 条件语气 he would have worked
条件进行式 he would have been working
肯定式的缩略式 助动词be，have，will，would的缩略形式如下：
am ′m
is ′s
are ′re
have ′ve
has ′s
had ′d
will ′ll
would ′d
注意：′s可以表示is或has；′d可以表示had或would：He′s going．相当于：
He is going．
他要走了。
He′s gone．相当于：
He has gone．
他已走了。
He′d paid．相当于：
He had paid．
他已付过了。
He′d like a drink．相当于：
He would like a drink．
他想要杯喝的。
这些缩略形式用于代词here，there，某些疑问词和短的名词之后：
Here′s your pen．
你的钢笔在这儿。
The twins′ve arrived．
双胞胎已经到了。
The car′d broken down．
车坏了。
肯定式的缩略式不用于句末：
You aren′t in a hurry but I am．
你不着急，我可着急。（此处不能用I′m。）
shall，should，was和were没有书面的缩略形式，但在口语中常读为/Ml/，/M+d/，/w+z/和/w+（r）/。
重音
通常助动词被用来构成时态时不重读，而主要的动词应重读。