Business English Tenses
The three main tenses in English are:
present – past – future.
These three tenses are divided into four aspects namely:
the simple, the progressive, the perfect and the perfect progressive.
Tenses
Usage
Triggers
Example
Simple Present
facts – planned actions – habits – expressions of emotion
always -every day – normally – often – seldom – sometimes – usually
Frank lives in England but he always goes on holiday to Germany.
Present Progressive
happens at the moment of speaking – temporary actions
now – right now – at the moment – presently – just (now)
I am working on my computer right now.
Simple Past
completed action in the past – habits in the past – ongoing action in the past – past facts – generalizations in the past
when – yesterday – 3 minutes ago – in 1964 – the other day – last friday
In 1974, she travelled to Berlin and afterwards she visited her friend in London.
Past Progressive
interrupted action in the past – actions taking place at the same time – specific time as interruption – setting a scene for another action
while – as long as
She came, while I was cleaning the house.
Present Perfect
experiences – changes – incomplete actions – continuous actions until now – simultaneous actions in different times
already – ever – just – not yet – never – so far – till now/up to now
I have never been in Brisbane yet. She has already started the project.
Present Perfect Progressive
continuous actions until now – an action that stopped just now or is still going on – completed actions that have an influence the present –
recently – all day – lately – for 4 years – since 1954 – the whole week
Recently, I’ve been waiting for her about 1 hour.
He has been having a great advantage.
Past Perfect
completed action in the past – stressing the importance of the action in the past
already – just – never – not yet – once – until that day – by – then
I had already finished my homework by then.
Past Perfect Progressive
completed action in the past – stressing the time span or the procedure of an action
for – since – the whole day – all day
She has been doing it all day.
Future I Simple
(will/going to)
‘will’- expression of spontaneous actions or promises
‘going to’ – expression of plans
‘will’ or ‘going to’ expression of predictions
in a year – tomorrow – next week
It will rain tomorrow.
I am going to visit my friend next year.
Future I Progressive
interrupted action in the future – specific time as interruption in the future – actions happening at the same time in the future – feelings in the future
by Monday – in a week
I will have finished this project by Monday.
Future II Simple
an action that will be completed in a set time in the future
by Monday – in a week
I will have finished this project by Monday.
Future II Progressive
an action that will take place before a definite time in the future – stress on the procedure of an action
for ….. the last couple of hours – all day long
If you come, I will have been waiting for hours.