1.

Present Simple:

- to say something happens repeatedly:

The children always make their own breakfast.

- to describe a general or permanent situation:

He works in a bank. She lives on her own.

- to talk about general scientific truths:

The earth goes round the sun.

- to describe present actions in commentaries or stories:

Wright passes the ball to Jones.

- to talk about how often we do things:

I go to the supermarket every Saturday.

- to give instructions:
You put the eggs in a saucepan; you boil them.

- to talk about timetables and schedules:

Our train leaves at 10 o’clock.

2. Present Continuous:

- to talk about actions already happening at the moment of speaking:

I am getting dressed – I’ll be down in a moment.

- to talk about temporary situations:

She is working in a bar at the moment.

- to talk about changing situations:

Things are getting more and more expensive.

- to express irritation (with “always”):

She’s always arriving late.

- to talk about plans and arrangements:

I’m having my hair cut tomorrow.
3. Past Simple:

- to talk about events which happened at a particular time in the past:

I saw a great film last night.

- to talk about situations in the past:

I lived in France for two years.

- to talk about habits in the past:

We went for long walks every day.
4. Present Perfect Simple:

- to talk about states or actions that started in the past and continue to the present:
I have lived here for twenty years.
She has been ill since Monday.

- when we can see the results of a past action in the present:

She hasn’t woken up yet. Look! You’ve made a terrible mess in the living room.

- to talk about repeated actions in the past which continue in the present:
She’s taken part in every race so far.

- to talk about experiences in our life:

Have you ever been to France?
I’ve never seen a whale.

- to talk about how many times we have done something:

That’s the third time he’s won the prize.

- with the superlative:

This is the best film I’ve ever seen.

5. Past Continuous:

- to describe actions in progress in the past:

She was busy cleaning the house yesterday.

- to describe an action in progress in the past which is interrupted by another action

He was watching TV when the doorbell rang.

- to emphasize that an event in the past was temporary:

We were staying on a small island at the time.

- to give descriptions:
The couple were staying on the balcony, looking at the beautiful night sky.

- to talk about something you planned to happen but did not happen:
We were going to go to Italy but we had to cancel the trip.

- to talk about two or more actions going on at the same time in the past:
While John was putting up the tent, Bill was frying the sausages.
6. Present Perfect Continuous:

- to emphasize the duration of an action:

I’ve been waiting for an hour.

- when we can see the results of an action:

Somebody’s been walking on the flowerbeds.

- to say an action is temporary:

I’ve been staying with a friend.

- to talk about temporary repeated actions:

He’s been seeing a psychiatrist.

- to say an action is not complete:

I’ve been trying to finish this assignment, but just can’t finish it.

7. Past Perfect Simple:

- for events that took place before another event in the past:
I arrived at the station too late, and found that the train had already left.
- to emphasize the order in which events occurred:
He didn’t go out until he had done all his work.
- in reported speech:
He told us he had arrived a week before.

8. Past Perfect Continuous:

- to describe an action which continued until another past action took place:
She had been waiting by the phone all night before he finally called.
- to explain why an action or feeling in the past occurred:
I was tired; I had been working all day.

- to emphasize that something happened for a long period of time before another
event in the past:
War suddenly broke out in a country where, until then, the people had been living
peacefully for hundreds of years.