ENGLISH TENSES: Uses

Present Simple
For general facts
For actions that happen regularly
Present Continuous
For a continuous action in progress at the moment
For future plans/arrangements
Present Perfect
With actions that happened in the past at an unspecified time
With actions that began in the past and continue to the present
With actions that have never happened
Present Perfect Continuous
With actions that began in the past and continue to the present
Past Simple
For events that started and finished in the past
Past Continuous
For events that were in progress in the past
Past Perfect
For past events that happened BEFORE other past events
Past Perfect Continuous
For past actions that continued up to another point in the past
Future Simple
Use the going to form
For plans, arrangements, and predictions
Use the will form
For promises, offers, predictions, and decisions made in the moment of speaking

Future Continuous
For actions that will be in progress at a time in the future
Future Perfect
For actions that will be completed before a future time
Future Perfect Continuous
For actions that will continue up to a future time