Nuanced Tense Usage & Aspect

**Present Simple for scheduled future:** - The train **departs** at 6 AM. (timetable) - The conference **starts** next Monday. (fixed schedule) **Present Continuous for annoying habits (with "always"):** - She's **always complaining** about the traffic! (irritation) - He's **always losing** his keys. (exasperation) **Past Simple vs Present Perfect (common English trap!):** ❌ "I have gone to Amsterdam last week." ✅ "I **went** to Amsterdam last week." (finished time = past simple) ✅ "I **have been** to Amsterdam." (no time specified = present perfect) **Past Perfect for "the earlier past":** - When I reached the station, the train **had already left**. - She told me she **had visited** Amritsar before. **Future Perfect:** - By 2030, the country **will have become** the world's most populous country. **Narrative tenses (storytelling):** - Past Simple for main events: He **walked** into the room. - Past Continuous for background: The rain **was falling** heavily. - Past Perfect for earlier events: He realised he **had forgotten** his umbrella. **"Would" for past habits:** - As children, we **would play** football every evening. - (Similar to "used to", but can't describe states.)