The present

Present simple or present continuous

Permanent or temporary? Roles, projects, trends and the verbs that stay in the present simple.

The future

Future tenses

Decisions, plans, offers and predictions – and no ‘will’ after ‘when’.

From the past to the present

Present perfect or past simple

Have we moved on? Single events, repeated events, ‘ever’ and ‘never’.

From the past to the present

Present perfect or present perfect continuous

For and since in introductions, progress updates and charts.

The past

Past tenses

Past simple, past continuous and past perfect – plus a mixed business story.

The past

Past perfect or past perfect continuous

A finished action, or how long something had been happening before another event?

Future from the past

Future from the past

‘They said they would…’: promises, plans and predictions made in the past.

Reported speech

Reported speech

‘Said’ or ‘says’? One step back, or no change?

Passive voice

The passive voice

‘It has been approved’: every passive form, in emails, reports and headlines.

Conditionals

Conditionals

Plans and warnings, imaginary scenarios, negotiations and project reviews.

Extras

Future perfect or future perfect continuous

Deadlines and ‘by Friday we will have…’ – or how long, up to a future moment.

Verbs of possibility

Must, might, could, can’t: how certain are you?

Verbs of permission

Can, may, be allowed to: asking for and giving permission.

Can or could

Ability, requests and possibility – which one fits?

Must or have to

Your own rules or someone else’s? Obligation at work.

Wish sentences

‘I wish we had…’: regrets about the present and the past.

Used to or be used to

Past habits, or things that feel normal now?

Used to, be used to or get used to

Adds ‘get used to’: the process of adapting to something new.

Even if or even though

A possible situation, or a fact? Two linking words that change your meaning.

If or in case

A condition, or a precaution? Planning ahead in business.