1.
Talking Facts
Simple Present
You’re probably already familiar with the present simple, the most
basic English present tense. Use this tense for information that doesn’t
change, such as facts about yourself and your work. You’ll need to
speak about these facts during job interviews, at networking events,
etc.
Hi, this is Ashmi. She delivers new projects for the whole of Southeast
Asia.
Our organization works with local partners to ensure smooth, localized
service to our customers.
2. Giving Progress Updates
Most professionals regularly present updates on projects and
campaigns to their clients or supervisors. You’ll need the following
tenses to do this naturally in business English.
Simple Past
This is the most basic English past tense, and you’ll need it
when presenting stuff that’s done and dusted. These are projects or
efforts that are finished, often accompanied by the time you completed
them.
The marketing team met with prospective advertising agencies last
month.
Present Continuous
To form this tense, use the verb “to be” as a helping verb, plus the “-
ing” form of your main verb. Use this tense to discuss projects that are
still in progress.
They are developing a social media campaign for the summer
collection.
Our designer is currently presenting her work to the client.
Present Perfect
Have a recent development to report? Use the present perfect.
For example, if your manager is aware that you’re working on a
specific task, you can use this tense to update them on any changes to
its status.
This tense is formed with “to have” as a helping verb, plus the past
participle of your main verb. You may want to also incorporate words
like just, already, yet or still to give further information about the
status.
We have just established a new customer service center in São
Paulo, Brazil.
Renovation of the building has already begun, but they have not
started the recruitment drive yet.
Present Perfect Continuous
Use the present perfect continuous to emphasize the effort you’ve
been putting in!
This differs from the situation above in that it demonstrates
a continuous effort that started in the past and is ongoing.
To form this tense, use “has been/have been” plus the “-ing” form of
your main verb.
The Customer Experience team has been working closely with local
vendors to design more efficient procedures.
I have been coordinating her relocation to Paris with HR for the past
three months.
3. Discussing Future Plans and Projections
Knowing your future forms is key to managing expectations. Is it a
promise? Is it definite?
Simple Future
You’re probably already at least somewhat familiar with this tense. Just
remember that you can use “will” or “going to” plus a verb to
indicate a commitment or prediction for the future.
As a general rule, “going to” is a bit less formal than “will.”
Our Customer Care Agent will respond to your complaint within 24
hours.
The business will expand to North America in the next two to three
years.
We are going to have a brief discussion at the cafe before visiting the
client.
It is going to be very difficult to retract that statement once it is
published.
Present Continuous
Here’s the present continuous again. You can use it to describe future
activities that have already been arranged.
This means it’s on! No backing out!
Mark is meeting the Procurement Manager tomorrow at 10 a.m.
We are launching the new product on the 15th of April.
Present Simple
Here’s a specific use of the present simple to describe plans for a
formally arranged event or action.
Use the verb “to be” in the present simple tense, plus the phrase “due
to/set to [verb].”
The new service center is due to begin operations in July of next
year.
The bands are set to arrive at 6 p.m., so they have enough time to
rehearse.
Future Perfect
For advanced English speakers, you may find the appropriate situation
to use the future perfect (“will have” + past participle) or future
perfect continuous (“will have been” + verb in “-ing” form) to forecast
the completion of a certain task by a specific point in time.
By the time he arrives, we will have ended the meeting.
By next January, we will have been developing this product for three
years.
4. Describing Past Activities and Telling Stories
Imagine yourself at a conference, glass in hand, ready to charm your
listeners with a story.
Unsurprisingly, you’ll need to use the English past tenses to explain
what happened. Try mixing the simple past, past perfect (“had”+ past
participle), past continuous (“was/were” + “-ing” form of verb) and past
perfect continuous (“had been” + “-ing” form of verb) to weave it
together.
The Project Team had been testing the new software when
they encountered an issue. I was having a teleconference with a
client when Steven told me. I was so upset, I started criticizing him,
but I hadn’t put my phone on mute. The client heard everything! So
embarrassing!
5. Discussing Hypothetical Situations
Conditionals
Our day-to-day professional lives often require us think creatively. This
might come up when we’re brainstorming, having a job interview or
analyzing past events.
These situations call for the use of second and third conditionals.
The second conditional is used for present and future imaginary
situations. The formula is “if” + simple past verb… “would” + infinitive
verb.
If you sent me the data on Friday, I would review it before the end of
the day.
The third conditional discusses alternative results for situations that
didn’t happen. The formula is “if” + past perfect verb… “would have” +
past participle.
If I had known Paul was working for our competitor, I would have
told him less.
If we had met the Finance Director, we would have addressed her
concerns about the AGM.
