USES OF TENSES IN ENGLISH
Future
Present
be going to
Future continuous
Will/Shall
Future perfect
Predictions, Offers, Promises, Requests, Suggestions, On-the-spot decisions, When it is not certain whether sth will happen, Opinions, Hopes, fears
Intention, Planned actions, When there is evidence that sth will definitely happen, action sees as a result of sth else in the future.
Action in progress at a certain time in the future, Logical assumption about the present, Already planned action.
Action finished before a certain future time, logical assumption in the past. By/Before are used with positive sentences; until is used for negative sentences .
Future perfect continuous
Duration of an action up to a certain time in the future
Past
Present continuous
Present Perfect
Present Simple
Present perfect continuous
Habitual action, Permanent state, Arranged future action, Permanent truth, Instructions.
Temporary action, Repeated action with always, Definite arrangement or plan.
Recently completed action, Action beginning in the past and continuing up to the present, Indefinite past action, Repeated action still continuing.
Past action producing visible result in the present, Duration of an action beginning in the past and continuing up to the present, Action showing annoyance, Explanation, Irritation or surprise.
Past continuous
Simple past
Past perfect
Past perfect continuous
Action completed in the past when there is direct or indirect time reference, Past habitual action, Past actions happening one after the other, Past action which will not be repeated.
Past action in progress at a given point in time, Past action in progress interrupted by another action, Simultaneous past actions, Polite inquiries.
Past action which happened before another past action, As the past equivalent of the present perfect.
Duration of a past action occurring before another past action, Action producing visible results in the past.
Other ways
be + infinitive: Future plan. be about + infinitive, be on the point of; Immediate future