We are going to review all english tenses (16).
It is used for routines and habits, e.g.
I play tenis every Friday.
When it's used with "he", "she", or "it"; an "s" must be added to the end of the verb, e.g.
She plays tenis every Friday.
Present simple it's used in permanent situations, this is, that is not likely to change, e.g.
I live in America.
As mentioned before, when using "he", "she", or "it"; an "s" must be added to the end of the verb, e.g.
He lives in America.
We use the present simple with facts, e.g.
Water boils at 100Cº.
Note the use of the "s" at the end of the verb.
The present continuous is used with things happening at the moment, e.g.
I am having my dinner.
The form is: subject + am/are/is + present participle (base + "ing"). e.g.
He is walking the dog.
They are running.
It's used in not permanent situations, e.g.
I am staying with my friend for two weeks.
The past simple is used in finished action situations, usually with a time reference, e.g.
I lived in London for 5 years.
In this type of situation, we use verbs in the past principle form. Regular verbs used in past principle, often end with "-ed", e.g.
Lived, laughed, loved, walked, etc...
Irregular verbs are different: look this article, from the Oxford dictionary.
We use the past simple when there are past actions that occurred in a chronological order, e.g.
I woke up, had a shower, and then left for work.
We use the past continuous with actions that were already happening before and after a specific time in the past, e.g.
I was speaking with my friend at 8 o'clock last night.
The form is: was/were + present participle (base + "ing").
When telling actions that occurred in the past in parallel, we also use the past continuous, e.g.
I was reading while she was making dinner.
We use the same form as before.
We use the past continuous when we tell actions that occurred in the past, but were interrupted by another action, e.g.
I was taking a shower when my mom called me.
The form is the same.
When an action occurred in the past and continued for some time, we use the past continuous, e.g.
Everyone was singing.
The form is the same as before.
We use the past continuous when an action in the past was repeated again, and again, e.g.
I was practicing every day, three times a day.
We use the same form.
We use the used to tense for repeated actions or situations, that are no longer repeated, e.g.
I used to smoke.
The present perfect simple is used for actions or situations happening until now, usually not finished, that is, actions that started in the past, and are not finished yet, thus, they are going to be continued, until they're finished; e.g.
I've started reading his latest book.
The form used is: has/have + past participle.
As life is not over, we use the present perfect simple for life experiences, because they're experiences from the past, but can happen again in the future, e.g.
I haven't travelled much.
The form is the same.
For actions occurred in the recent past, which have had a result in the present, we use the present perfect simple, e.g.
I have done the shopping.
We use the present perfect simple with the words: "just", "ever", "already", "yet", and "since"; e.g.
Have you ever seen a panda?
For more examples of the present perfect simple, read this short article from EF.
For actions that are in progress, we use the present perfect continuous, e.g.
I have been painting the kitchen.
The form is: subject + has/have + been + present participle (base + "ing").
For expressing how long an unfinished action has been going, e.g.
I have been studying all morning.
We use the same form.
When expressing an action that's temporary, we use the present perfect continuous, e.g.
I usually work in finance, but I have been working on this project for three weeks.
The form is the same.
We use the past perfect simple for actons or situations which happened before another action in the past, e.g.
Mike called Mary at 9:45, but Mary had already fallen asleep.
When Mrs. Brown opened the washing machine, she realised she had washed the cat.
Form: had + past participle.
We use the past perfect continuous for long actions that happened before another action in the past, e.g.
I had been living in Miami for 2 years before I bought a house.
Form: subject + had been + present participle (base + "ing").
We use the will-future for decisions made at the time of speaking, spontaneously; e.g.
I think I will make a sandwich for dinner tonight!
I'll go to the gym.
Form: "will" + bare infinitive.
For examples of bare infinitives, read this article.
We also use the will-future for predictions based in the subject's opinion, e.g.
I think he'll take the job, it seems to be just what he is looking for.
The form is the same.
The will-future is used for facts in the future, e.g.
The game will start at 7:30 tonight.
The form is the same.
We use the will-future for threats and promises, e.g.
I will send you the information tomorrow.
We use the same form.
We use the going-to future for decisions made before speaking, e.g.
I am going to visit Spain this year. I just need to figure out when.
Form: "going to" + bare infinitive
For predictions made, based on some evidence; we use the going-to future, e.g.
Look at those black clouds. I think it is going to rain.
The form is the same.
We use the future with present continuous for arrangements, or appointments. These are events that can only change by informing others; e.g.
I am meeting Jackie next Tuesday.
The future with present simple is used to make statements about events in the future, when the statements are based on present facts, and when these facts are something fixed like a time-table, schedule, or calendar; e.g.
The plane leaves in 20 minutes.
I have a meeting tomorrow morning.
The theater opens at 8 o'clock tomorrow night.
Next Saturday at 4 PM there is a music show.
For things that will be finished by a particular time in the future, we use the future perfect simple, e.g.
I will have finished the homework by 8:00.
I will have finished in an hour, and then you can use the computer.
Form: "will have" + past participle.
We use the future continuous when an action or situation will be unfinished or in progress at or around a time in the future, e.g.
This time tomorrow we will be sitting on the beach! I can't wait!
Form: "will be" + present participle (base + "ing").
For more examples, read this article by EF.
When we assume that an action or situation is occurring at the moment, we can use the future continuous; e.g.
Don't phone Granpa, he will be sleeping.
Like the future perfect simple, this form is used to project ourselves forward in time and to look back. It refers to events or actions that are currently unfinished but will be finished at some future time. It is most often used with a time expression. e.g.
In September, I will have been working at my company for three years.
Form: "will have been" + present participle (base + "ing").
For more examples, read this article by EF.