We use this tense to talk about habits, routines and facts.
Simple Present
I work / am working in an office.
work
I studied / was studying English in college.
studied
I have just finished / have just been finishing my homework.
have just finished
I get up at 5 am every day.
She never does her homework.
What do you do in your free time?
Present Simple
We use this tense to talk about completed actions in the past.
Simple Past
They study / are studying now because tomorrow they have an exam.
are studying
They were playing / played when the phone rang.
were playing
has read
I have been reading a mistery book this month.
He hasn't been studying a lot these days.
What have you been doing for fun lately?
Present Perfect Continuous
We use this tense to talk about actions that were recently finished, an activity that is still true now or that is seen as permanent.
Present Perfect Simple
We live / are living in a small house in the suburbs.
live
She didn't study / wasn't studying enough for the exam.
didn't study
We have been reading / have read Harry Potter's book this week.
have been reading
They ate tacos last night.
We didn't go to school last weekend.
What did you do in your last vacation?
Past Simple
We used this tense to talk about an action that is happening now.
Present Continuous / Progressive
is listening
The men were running / ran in the park when it started raining.
were running.
has always wanted
She was talking on the phone while her brother was watching TV.
I wasn't listening to you because she was making a lot of noise.
What were you doing last Friday at 8:00 p.m.?
Past Continuous
We use this tense to talk about an actino that was in progress at a specific point in the past.
Past Continuous
He doesn't eat / isn't eating very well these days.
isn't eating
had
The author has written / has been writing 20 books.
has written
I've seen 2 movies this week.
They haven't finished the project yet.
How many movies have you seen so far?
Present Perfect Simple