Conjugation

Speak for

parler pendant

Irregular verb, phrasal verb.

Conjugated like break, misspeak

  • Phrasal verb: for

    Only speak changes; for stays the same: spoke for, spoken for.

In speech, the helping verbs shorten: I’m, he’s, we’re, I’ve, I’ll, I’d.

Underlined: the stem is not the infinitive’s.

Newbie

Enough to talk about now, the past, and your plans, and to give instructions.

  1. Present simple

    Habits, facts, and how things usually are. To say no or ask, add do or does: I don't speak for, he doesn't speak for.

    1. I / you / we / they speak for
    2. he / she / it speaks for

  2. Present continuous

    What is happening now, and plans already arranged: we’re leaving tomorrow.

    1. I am speaking for
    2. you / we / they are speaking for
    3. he / she / it is speaking for

  3. Past simple

    A finished action at a past time: yesterday, in 2020. To say no or ask, add did: I didn't speak for.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they spoke for

  4. Future with going to

    Plans and intentions, and what you can see coming: it’s going to rain.

    1. I am going to speak for
    2. you / we / they are going to speak for
    3. he / she / it is going to speak for

  5. Imperative

    Orders, advice, and instructions. Let’s suggests doing it together. To say no: don't speak for.

    1. (you) speak for
    2. let's speak for
BeginnerExperiences, what you were doing, and the future with will.Present perfect · Past continuous · Future with willAlso show the Beginner tenses (3)

  1. Present perfect

    The past linked to now: experiences, news, and what started earlier and still goes on: I’ve lived here for two years.

    1. I / you / we / they have spoken for
    2. he / she / it has spoken for

  2. Past continuous

    An action in progress at a past moment, often interrupted: I was cooking when you called.

    1. I / he / she / it was speaking for
    2. you / we / they were speaking for

  3. Future with will

    Predictions, promises, offers, and decisions made now: I’ll help you.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will speak for
IntermediateHow long something has lasted, the past before the past, and what would happen.Present perfect continuous · Past perfect · Future continuous · Conditional · Conditional perfectAlso show the Intermediate tenses (5)

  1. Present perfect continuous

    An activity from the past until now, and how long it has lasted: I’ve been waiting for an hour.

    1. I / you / we / they have been speaking for
    2. he / she / it has been speaking for

  2. Past perfect

    The past before another past moment: when I arrived, the train had left.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they had spoken for

  3. Future continuous

    An action in progress at a future moment: this time tomorrow, I’ll be flying.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will be speaking for

  4. Conditional

    What would happen in an imagined situation, and polite requests: if I had time, I would help.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would speak for

  5. Conditional perfect

    What would have happened, but did not: if I had known, I would have come.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would have spoken for
AdvancedWhat will have happened, and the longer continuous tenses.Past perfect continuous · Future perfect · Future perfect continuous · Conditional continuous · Conditional perfect continuousAlso show the Advanced tenses (5)

  1. Past perfect continuous

    An activity that had been going on until a past moment: she was tired because she had been running.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they had been speaking for

  2. Future perfect

    An action finished before a future moment: by Friday, I’ll have finished.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will have spoken for

  3. Future perfect continuous

    How long an activity will have lasted at a future moment: in June, I’ll have been working here for a year.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will have been speaking for

  4. Conditional continuous

    An action that would be in progress in an imagined situation: if I were rich, I would be traveling now.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would be speaking for

  5. Conditional perfect continuous

    An activity that would have been going on in an imagined past: without the rain, we would have been playing outside.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would have been speaking for