Verb tenses in Business English
Which tense to use, and why, in real work situations. Sixteen visual lessons from How to Use English Verb Tenses in Business by David Cox – each one shows the difference on a timeline.
Present simple or present continuous
One rule for every situation: permanent or temporary?
Lesson 1.1
One rule: permanent or temporary
The single rule behind the present simple and present continuous – applied to your role, projects and habits.
Open lesson
Lesson 1.2
Charts and changes
Trends, ‘become’ and ‘get’: describing what is changing right now.
Open lesson
Lesson 1.3
Verbs not used in continuous forms
Know, need, think, have: the verbs that stay in the present simple – and the exceptions.
Open lesson
Lesson 1.4
News headlines
Why headlines seem to break the rules – and how to read them correctly.
Open lesson
Lesson 2.1
Spontaneous decisions
‘I’ll send it to you now’: using ‘will’ for decisions made on the spot.
Open lesson
Lesson 2.2
Future plans
From ‘I think I’ll…’ to the official timetable: how fixed is the plan?
Open lesson
Lesson 2.3
Promises and offers
Committing to clients and colleagues with ‘will’ – and when to sound more assertive.
Open lesson
Lesson 2.4
Predictions
‘Will’ for opinions, ‘going to’ for evidence you can see now.
Open lesson
Lesson 2.5
Future with ‘when’ and ‘as long as’
Why there is no ‘will’ after when, until and as soon as.
Open lesson
From the past to the present
Present perfect, past simple and present perfect continuous.
Lesson 3.1
Single events
Have we moved on? The question that decides between the present perfect and the past simple.
Open lesson
Lesson 3.2
Repeated events
How many times – and can it happen again?
Open lesson
Lesson 3.3
‘Have you ever…?’ and ‘never’
The small-talk question for conferences, client dinners and networking events.
Open lesson
Lesson 3.4
For and since in business introductions
‘I’ve been leading the team for three years’ – getting introductions right.
Open lesson
Lesson 3.5
Updates: ‘in the last week’
Giving progress updates in meetings without changing your meaning.
Open lesson
Lesson 3.6
Charts and graphs
Is the trend finished or still going? Tenses for presenting data.
Open lesson
Passive voice
Sounding official in emails, reports and announcements.
Lesson 8.1
Things which will maybe happen
Real possibilities, plans and warnings: ‘If they accept, we will…’.
Open lesson
Lesson 8.2
Best and worst case scenarios
Imaginary situations: ‘If we lost the contract, we would…’.
Open lesson
Lesson 8.3
Suggestions and exploring options
‘If we did…’ or ‘If we do…’? Testing ideas in meetings and negotiations.
Open lesson
Lesson 8.4
How we could have done better
Project reviews: ‘If we had…, we would have…’.
Open lesson
Extras
Tenses you will need far less than the ones in the main guide.
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