Present Forms

Present Perfect

Present Simple

Present Continuous

Present Perfect Continuous

to give instructions

timetable

Daily routine

general truth

repeated actions

planes

permanent states

actions taking place now

trains

changing situations

programmes

arranged plans for the near future

to express annoyance

Changing situations

developing situations

temporary actions

reviews

narration

usually, often, always

every day\week\month

time expressions: now, at the moment, these days, still

in the morning\afternoon\evening

at night

at the weekend

sports commentaries

on Monday\Tuesday etc

recently finished action

an unstated time in the past

actions whose period is not over yet

for, since, already, yet, always, just, ever, never, so far, today, this week/month

With state verbs: be, have, like, know

to announce a piece of news

an action started in the past but continues up to the present

Use for and since

visible result

for, since, how long

Action may still going on

Action may have finished

The result of action is visible

express anger, irritation

duration of an action

An action started in the past and lasted for some time

how long, lately, still (in negations)

the emphasis is placed on the action

the exact time is not mentioned because it is either unknown or unimportant