We use Present Simple to talk about:
general truth and rules:
Smoking causes cancer.
Three times three equals nine.
routines and habits:
He buys a lot of vegetables in the supermarket every day.
I usually get up at five o'clock in the morning.
permanent situations and states:
I play tennis and football.
We live in Australia.
future facts:
The flight to London departs at seven o'clock tonight.
The bus leaves in thirty minutes.
Present Continuous is used:
to talk about activities in progress at the time of speaking:
Are you cooking a dinner right now?
We are playing football.
to talk about temporary activities and habits:
She is looking after his children while he is out.
I am working to get my nursing certification.
to talk about personal arrangements for the future:
I am visiting my parents on Wednesday.
We are flying back on Saturday.
to show irritation about a person's bad habit:
They are always getting bad marks.
He is often loosing his money.
We use Present Perfect when we talk about:
past events and activities with consequences in the present:
Oh no! Someone has stolen my money!
I have finished my exercise. Could you look it throw?
single or repeated events in the past when it does not matter when they happened:
Have you ever been to Poland?
He has never eaten yellow tomatoes.
situations that started in the past and continue up till now:
He has been ill since Friday.
I have not done my homework yet.
Present Perfect Continuous is used to talk about:
continuous or repeated actions that started in the past and are not finished:
We have been preparing for our exam since morning.
He has been doing a lot of overtime recently to save money for a holiday.
continuous or repeated actions from the recent past which have consequences on the present:
What have you been doing all the evening?
She has been waiting here for three hours!
We use Past Simple if we talk about single or repeated events in the past when they happened:
Past Continuous is used to talk about:
actions that continued for some time in the past especially to show a longer action that was interrupted by a shorter one::
We were reading books when the phone rang.
I was playing chess when you entered the room.
actions that form the background, especially to set a scene:
We were walking along the beach chatting to one another. Suddenly, we heard a call of help.
I was playing in the yard. Suddenly, it started to rain.
We use Past Perfect to talk about events or situations in the past which happened before other past events:
We use will + verb without to when we want to make :
a decision at the moment of speaking:
I will play this game at once.
I will do it tomorrow.
a prediction based on our opinions or beliefs:
I hope we will finish this work tonight.
We will probably get home in an hour.
a prediction:
Will you wait for me?
Will they finish this work in time?
To be going to + verb without to to express:
an intention:
He is going to cook a dinner.
I am going to water the plants.
a prediction based on what we see now:
It is going to be windy.
It's 8.30! You are going to miss the train!