Present Simple
Used for habits, general truths, and fixed arrangements.
Structure
Subject + Verb (s/es for 3rd person)
Example
"She works in London."
Use Cases
Habits: I drink coffee every morning.
General Truths: The sun rises in the east.
Timetables: The train leaves at 8 PM.
Present Continuous
Used for actions happening now or around now, and temporary situations.
Structure
Subject + am/is/are + Verb-ing
Example
"She is working from home today."
Use Cases
Now: I am reading a book.
Temporary: He is staying with friends this week.
Present Perfect
Used for past actions with present relevance, or experiences up to now.
Structure
Subject + have/has + Past Participle
Example
"She has finished her report."
Use Cases
Result now: I have lost my keys.
Experience: I have been to Japan.
Past Simple
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past.
Structure
Subject + Verb (past form / -ed)
Example
"She worked in London last year."
Use Cases
Completed action: I saw him yesterday.
Past habit: We always walked to school.
Past Continuous
Used for an action in progress at a specific time in the past, or interrupted by another action.
Structure
Subject + was/were + Verb-ing
Example
"She was working when I called."
Use Cases
In progress: At 8 PM I was cooking dinner.
Interrupted: I was reading when the phone rang.
Past Perfect
Used for an action completed before another action or time in the past.
Structure
Subject + had + Past Participle
Example
"She had left before I arrived."
Use Cases
Before another past action: I had eaten when she came.
Future Simple
Used for predictions, promises, and decisions made at the moment of speaking.
Structure
Subject + will + Verb (base form)
Example
"She will start the new job next month."
Use Cases
Prediction: It will rain tomorrow.
Promise: I will help you.
Future Continuous
Used for an action that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.
Structure
Subject + will be + Verb-ing
Example
"This time tomorrow, I will be flying to Paris."
Use Cases
In progress at a time: At 9 PM I will be studying.
Polite questions: Will you be using your car this evening?
Future Perfect
Used to describe an action that will be completed before a specific time in the future.
Structure
Subject + will have + Past Participle
Example
"By next Friday, she will have finished the project."
Use Cases
Completed before a future time: I will have left by 8 o'clock.
Expectations: They will have arrived by now.
Conditionals
Conditionals express cause and result. The type depends on time and reality.
Zero Conditional (General Truths)
If + Present Simple, Present Simple
"If you heat ice, it melts."
First Conditional (Real Possibilities)
If + Present Simple, Will + Verb
"If it rains, I will stay at home."
Second Conditional (Imaginary Situations)
If + Past Simple, Would + Verb
"If I won the lottery, I would travel the world."
Third Conditional (Past Regrets)
If + Past Perfect, Would have + Past Participle
"If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam."