Present Simple
Used for something which happens regularly or which is a habit.
Example: We go out every Saturday night.
Present Continuous
Used for an event in progress at the present time.
Example: Look, they’re coming out of the cinema now.
Present Perfect
Used for an event which happened at an indefinite time in the past.
Example: I’ve seen “The Truman Show” twice.
Present Perfect Continuous
Used for an activity which has begun in the past and is still going on.
Example: We’ve been living here for 6 years.
Past Simple
Used when talking about the past for a definite point in time.
Example: Last night I went to a concert.
Past Continuous
Used for an event which was in progress when another event happened.
Example: I was driving along the motorway when I had a puncture.
Past Perfect
Used for an event which happened before another in the past.
Example: I went back home because I’d forgotten my keys.
Past Perfect Continuous
Used to emphasize the continuous activity which happened before another in the past.
Example: They had been studying for hours when they suddenly realized it was midnight.
Future Simple
Used to make a prediction about the future.
Example: I guess our team will win the match next week.
Future Continuous
Used for an event which will be in progress at a certain time in the future.
Example: This time next week I’ll be swimming in the Black Sea.
Future Perfect
Used for an event which will be over not later than a certain time in the future.
Example: They’ll have done their homework by tomorrow.
Future Perfect Continuous
Used for something still in progress but which will be complete not later than a certain time in the future.
Example: He’ll have been working for the bank for 30 years next summer.