English

Business Grammar Guide

1. VERBS

1. Present simple VS.  Present Continuous

We use the Present Simple to talk about  :

• Permanent features and things that happen on a regular basis e.g

                 My brother is a  lawyer.

                 The factory makes aircraft components.

                 What does your company do ?

                 We  don’t often use subcontractors.

• Timetables and events  ( see also 2.1) e.g.

                   The display begins at 10 a.m

We use the present continuous  to talk about:

• Things that are happening at the moment of speaking e.g

                      What are you doing?

                      I’m  just  typing up the report.

• Situations that are temporary, happening around the present time  or developing  trends e.g.

I’m working on an interesting project at the moment.

                 We’re trying to solve the problem.

                 How is the business doing?

                 Prices are going up all the time.

• Personal futures plans and arrangements (see also 2.2) e.g.

              Are you going to the conference next week?

Some verbs are typically  used in the continuous, as they can last for a period of time (e.g wait, work, learn, estudy, live, stay, try, rain ). E.g.

                        It’s raining.

                        I’m trying  to mend the copier.

The present simple is usually used with state verbs:

• Verbs of thinking and knowing ( believe, think (=believe), agree, understand, know, remember, forget, realize, expect, etc.) e.g.

              I think that’s a great idea.

              I gree

              I expect he’ll be tired when he arrives.

• Verbs of feeling or preference (want, wish, like, hate, matter, mind, etc.) e.g

              The company wants to relocate.

               I don’t mind where we go .

• Verbs of perceptions (taste, hear, see, smell, etc) e.g.

              This coffee tastes awful.

   (often  these verbs are used with can, e.g.

               Can you smell burning?)

• Verbs of possession ( have, have got, own, belong, etc.) E.g.

                 who does this jacket belong to?

                            They have sales offices all over the world.

• Some of these verbs can be used in the present continuous but with a different meaning. E.g.

we`re having some problems with our suppliers at the moment.

                      What are you thinking about?

                      I`m seeing Eduardo tomorrow.

                     I`m expecting him to arrive any minute now.

• With some verbs we can use either the present simple or the present continuous with no change of meaning ( feel, hurt, hope, etc). E.g.

               I don`t feel/I`m not feeling very well.

                     My leg is hurting/hurts.

                     We`re hoping/we hope to finish on time.

1.2 past simple vs. present perfect simple

We use the past simple for finished time periods which are specified or known from the context. It is used to talk about:

• actions/events at specific times in the past. e.g.

            They sold the company last year.

             When did you arrive?

• States in the past ( see also 1.6).  e.g.

              I lived in Paris for five years.

• Habits in the past ( see also 1.6). e.g.

              I smoked 20 a day when I was at university

We use the present perfect simple when there is a strong connection with the present. It is used to talk about:

• Things in have happened up until now in someone`s life at an unspecified time ( or thing that have not happened); ever, never, before and how many times are common with this usage. e.g.

              I`ve never been to Australia.

How many times have you taken your driving test?

• Things that started in the past and still continue; since, for and how ling are typically use. E.g.

              How long have you been in your present job?

I`ve been with the company since I left college/for five years.

( note the past simple is used after since for completed events)

• News and recent events at an unspecified time in the past where there is an impact on the present; the focus is on what has ( or hasn`t) happened rather the details of when, how, why, who, etc e.g.

                  The chairperson has resigned mobile

They have opened a new sales office in Madrid.

                  Oil prices have risen sharply.

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