Mixed verb tenses 7
✓ Useful for TOEIC
✓ Useful for Cambridge BEC
💡 Top tips
Present perfect vs simple past in professional contexts
Use the present perfect for actions with a connection to the present: 'We have launched three products this year.' Use simple past for completed actions at a specific time: 'We launched the product in March.' The distinction matters in reports and emails.
Using the passive voice professionally
The passive voice is common in formal business writing when the doer of an action is unknown, unimportant, or deliberately omitted: 'The report was submitted on time.' 'Errors were found in the data.' Avoid overusing it in spoken communication.
Expressing the future: 'will', 'going to', and present continuous
'Will' is used for decisions made at the moment of speaking and firm commitments: 'I'll send that right away.' 'Going to' refers to plans already decided: 'We're going to launch in Q4.' The present continuous is used for fixed arrangements: 'I'm meeting the client on Thursday.'
Present perfect vs simple past in professional contexts
Use the present perfect for actions with a connection to the present: 'We have launched three products this year.' Use simple past for completed actions at a specific time: 'We launched the product in March.' The distinction matters in reports and emails.
Using the passive voice professionally
The passive voice is common in formal business writing when the doer of an action is unknown, unimportant, or deliberately omitted: 'The report was submitted on time.' 'Errors were found in the data.' Avoid overusing it in spoken communication.
Expressing the future: 'will', 'going to', and present continuous
'Will' is used for decisions made at the moment of speaking and firm commitments: 'I'll send that right away.' 'Going to' refers to plans already decided: 'We're going to launch in Q4.' The present continuous is used for fixed arrangements: 'I'm meeting the client on Thursday.'
READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!
These exercises will help you to practice choosing the right verb tense in a Business English context. Choose the best response to complete each of the sentences below.
1. She was in charge of __________________________ all the web graphics.
Correct answer: creating — In charge of + gerund (creating).
2. Barbara __________________________ that she will be stepping down.
Correct answer: A or B — Both simple past and present perfect are correct for reported announcements.
3. I __________________________ worry about that if I were you.
Correct answer: wouldn't — Wouldn't for a hypothetical present advice (second conditional).
4. I'm not sure if they will be able __________________________ from these losses.
Correct answer: to rebound — Be able to + infinitive (to rebound).
5. I'm not sure if they can __________________________ you that information.
Correct answer: give — Can + base verb (no to after modal).
6. They announced last month that they __________________________ their relationship with Microsoft.
Correct answer: would scale back — Reported speech past: would scale back.
7. The meeting _________________ if John hadn't arrived at the last moment.
Correct answer: would have been called off — Third conditional passive: would have been called off.
8. The company was charged with __________________________ deceptive claims in its advertising campaign.
Correct answer: making — Charged with + gerund (making).
9. I have __________________________ to talk to you about the marketing survey you're working on.
Correct answer: been meaning — Have been meaning to = intended to for some time.
10. The bank is __________________________ one-third of its branches.
Correct answer: A or B — Trying to sell and selling are both correct here.
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