Which tense should I use?
Three questions at most. Each answer ends with the tense, the rule in one line, and sentences to try it on.
When does it happen?
Do you say when it happened?
At that moment, was it going on or was it over?
What matters about the earlier event?
Which is it?
What are you really saying?
What kind of future is it?
Present Perfect
The action is past, but you are talking about now: the result, the experience, the count.
She has finished the report.
Practise it on 1,960 sentencesAnd if… if you name the past time — yesterday, last week — then it is past simple, not present perfect — Past Simple.
Past Continuous
Something was in progress at a past moment, usually as a background to another event.
She was working when I called.
Practise it on 1,840 sentencesPast Simple
A finished action at a finished time. The time can be named or simply known to both of you.
She finished the report yesterday.
Practise it on 1,800 sentencesAnd if… if the sentence has no action verb — she was tired — the past of be is its own form — Past Simple with was/were.
Past Perfect
The earlier of two past events, when you need to show which came first.
She had finished before the meeting started.
Practise it on 1,910 sentencesPast Perfect Continuous
The earlier event again, but the point is how long it had lasted up to that moment.
She had been working for two hours when I called.
Practise it on 1,940 sentencesPresent Continuous
For what is in progress now or around now. Built from am, is, are plus -ing.
She is working on a report.
Practise it on 2,180 sentencesPresent Simple
For what is always or usually true. The only trap is the -s in he, she, it.
She works at a hospital.
Practise it on 2,030 sentencesPresent Perfect Continuous
The same «started earlier, matters now», but the point is the stretch of time, not the result.
She has been working since morning.
Practise it on 1,990 sentencesPresent Continuous
English uses the present continuous for fixed arrangements: the plan exists, the time is set.
She is flying to Rome on Friday.
Practise it on 2,180 sentencesAnd if… if it is an intention rather than a booked arrangement, going to fits better — to be going to.
to be going to
A plan you already have, or a prediction with evidence in front of you.
She is going to study medicine.
Practise it on 1,850 sentencesAnd if… if you decide while speaking — I’ll help you — it is will — will.
Future Simple with will
A decision made as you speak, a promise, an offer, or a plain prediction.
She will call you tomorrow.
Practise it on 2,010 sentencesFuture Perfect
Looking back from a future point: by then it will be done.
She will have finished by Friday.
Practise it on 1,800 sentencesAnd if… if the point is how long it will have lasted by then — Future Perfect Continuous.
Future Continuous
At a certain future moment, the action will be in the middle of happening.
She will be working at six.
Practise it on 1,800 sentences