This is your cheat sheet for English tenses. Use it to quickly check the structure of any tense. We will add more tenses as you learn them.
Use for: habits, facts, routines, and things that are always true.
Subject + base verb (+ s/es for he/she/it)
I work in sales.
He works in sales.
We sell websites.
She sells websites.
Subject + do/does + not + base verb
I do not (don't) work on Sundays.
He does not (doesn't) sell physical products.
Do/Does + subject + base verb?
Do you offer SEO services?
Does he work with restaurants?
For he/she/it → add -s or -es to the verb.
work → works | go → goes | study → studies
Use for: actions happening right now, or planned future actions.
Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing
I am working on a new website.
He is meeting a client today.
We are offering a special price this week.
Subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing
I am not charging extra for this.
Your business is not appearing on Google Maps.
Customers are not finding your shop online.
Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?
Are you getting enough customers from the internet?
Is your website bringing you any business?
I → am | He/She/It → is | You/We/They → are
Simple Present: "I sell websites." → always true, my job
Present Continuous: "I am building a website right now." → happening at this moment
Ask yourself: Is this always true, or is it happening now?
Use for: asking open questions that need more than yes/no.
What = thing/idea | How = method/way | Why = reason
When = time | Where = place | Who = person
Question Word + do/does + subject + base verb + …?
What do you sell?
How does he find customers?
Where do they come from?
Question Word + am/is/are + subject + …?
What is your biggest challenge?
Who is your target customer?
How many = countable (customers, websites, pages)
How much = uncountable (money, time, work)
How long = duration (time)
Use for: actions that are finished — they started and ended in the past.
Subject + past form of verb
I helped a restaurant get more customers.
He built a website last month.
We optimized three Google profiles.
Subject + did not (didn't) + base verb
I did not charge extra.
He didn't have a website before.
They didn't get any customers from Google.
Did + subject + base verb + …?
Did you see the results?
What did you do before?
How did you find new customers?
get → got | build → built | make → made | give → gave | come → came | see → saw
think → thought | tell → told | find → found | spend → spent
Yesterday | Last week / month / year | Two days ago | In 2025 | Before | When I started
Wrong: "He didn't helped." → After "did," use BASE verb: "He didn't help."
Wrong: "Did you saw?" → After "did," use BASE verb: "Did you see?"
Same rule as do/does in Simple Present!
Use for: promises, plans, predictions, and offers about the future.
Subject + will + base verb
I will send you the proposal tonight.
The website will be ready in two weeks.
You will see results within one month.
Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb
I am going to prepare a sample website for you.
He is going to review the proposal tomorrow.
We are going to start the SEO work on Monday.
Subject + will not (won't) + base verb
Subject + am/is/are + not + going to + base verb
I will not charge you extra for this.
I am not going to waste your time.
Will + subject + base verb + …?
Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base verb + …?
Will you be available tomorrow?
Are you going to check the proposal tonight?
"Will" = you decide NOW, or you are making a promise/prediction.
"Going to" = you already decided BEFORE. The plan already exists.
In sales writing, you will mostly use "will" for promises.
Tomorrow | Tonight | Next week / month | In two days | Soon | By Friday | Later today
Wrong: "I will to send you the proposal." → No "to" after "will"! → "I will send."
Wrong: "She will sends the email." → No -s after "will"! → "She will send."
Wrong: "He going to call you." → Missing "is"! → "He is going to call you."
Use for: experience up to now, results that matter now, actions with no specific time.
Subject + have/has + past participle (V3)
I have worked with over 50 businesses.
He has built three websites this year.
We have helped many restaurants.
Subject + have/has + not + past participle
I have not (haven't) seen your website yet.
He has not (hasn't) decided yet.
Have/Has + subject + past participle + …?
Have you seen our portfolio?
Has he decided about the website?
build → built | make → made | get → got | find → found | tell → told | spend → spent | think → thought
see → seen | give → given | come → come | do → done | take → taken
ever → "Have you ever used Google Ads?"
never → "I have never lost a client's data."
already → "I have already prepared a sample."
yet → "I haven't received your reply yet."
just → "I have just finished the design."
Present Perfect: "I have built 20 websites." → total experience, no specific time, still relevant
Simple Past: "I built a website last month." → specific time, finished
Wrong: "I have built a website yesterday." → Specific time? Use Simple Past!
Wrong: "I have saw the results." → Use V3: "I have seen."
Wrong: "He have seen the proposal." → He/She/It = has!
Use for: comparing products, prices, speeds, and services.
Short adjectives (1 syllable): add -er than (comparative) / the -est (superlative)
cheap → cheaper than → the cheapest | fast → faster than → the fastest
Long adjectives (2+ syllables): more + adj + than / the most + adj
expensive → more expensive than → the most expensive
Equal comparison: as + adj + as | as fast as, as affordable as
Irregular forms: good → better than → the best | bad → worse than → the worst
❌ "more better" → ✅ "much better"
❌ "more cheaper" → ✅ "much cheaper"
Use for: cause-and-effect benefits, proposals, guarantees, and business conditions.
If + Simple Present (Condition) , Subject + WILL / CAN / COULD + Base V1 (Result)
If you update your Google Business Profile, local clients will call your shop.
If we launch the website this week, your leads will increase.
If you confirm today, we can start tomorrow.
If + Simple Present (Cause) , Simple Present (Automatic Result)
If a shop lacks a website, it loses potential customers.
If a map listing is unverified, competitors rank higher.
❌ "If you will pay advance, we will start." (Indian English trap)
✅ "If you pay the advance, we will start." (Correct International English)
Use for: actions that started in the past and are still continuing now, or ongoing track record in sales.
Subject + have/has been + verb-ing
I have been working in digital sales for 3 years.
We have been helping local store owners increase foot traffic.
He has been running his restaurant since 2018.
How long + have/has + subject + been + verb-ing?
How long have you been running your retail shop?
How long have you been looking for a new website developer?
FOR + Duration / Period of time: for 3 years, for 6 months, for 2 weeks, for 5 hours
SINCE + Specific Starting Point: since 2021, since January, since last Monday, since 9 AM
❌ "I am running this business since 3 years." (Hindi translation trap)
✅ "I have been running this business for 3 years." (Correct International English)
Use for: linking sentences smoothly in presentations, pitches, emails, and sales calls.
Contrast (Problem / Difference): but, however, although
• "Many shops have photos; however, they lack 360° virtual tours."
Cause & Result (Reasons & Solution): because, so, therefore
• "Your site is unoptimized; therefore, we recommend our Growth Package."
Addition (Extra Benefits): and, in addition, also
• "We build custom websites, and we also optimize Google listings."
Illustration & Sequence (Examples & Closing): for example, specifically, in conclusion
• "For example, a nearby store increased walk-in leads by 35%."
❌ "Because our site is fast, so your sales will grow." (Double connector trap)
✅ "Because our site is fast, your sales will grow." (Use 'because' alone)
✅ "Our site is fast, so your sales will grow." (Use 'so' alone)
Use for: imagined situations, giving advice, painting future pictures for hesitant clients.
If + subject + Past Simple, subject + would + V1
"If I were you, I would choose the Growth Package."
"If you invested in SEO, your shop would rank on page 1."
"If a customer searched for 'best hotel near me', you would appear first."
If + subject + didn't + V1, subject + wouldn't + V1
"If you didn't have a website, customers wouldn't find you online."
"If we didn't optimize your profile, competitors wouldn't lose their advantage."
What would + subject + V1 + if + subject + past simple?
"What would you do if your competitor got a professional website?"
"How would your business change if 50 more customers found you?"
Use "were" for ALL subjects in the Second Conditional — even I/he/she/it:
✅ "If I were you..." | ✅ "If he were my client..."
❌ "If I was you..." → common but less professional in sales.
Trap 1 — "Will" in both clauses:
❌ "If you will invest, you will rank." → Mixing conditionals!
✅ "If you invested, you would rank." (Hypothetical advice)
✅ "If you invest, you will rank." (Real promise — First Conditional)
Trap 2 — "Would" in the IF clause:
❌ "If I would be you, I would choose..."
✅ "If I were you, I would choose..."
Rule: "Would" goes in the result clause only — never in the IF clause!
First Conditional (Real / Likely): If + Present Simple, will + V1
→ "If you sign today, I will start tomorrow." (Real promise)
Second Conditional (Hypothetical / Advisory): If + Past Simple, would + V1
→ "If you invested in SEO, you would rank higher." (Painting a picture)
→ "If I were you, I would choose the full package." (Giving advice)
Essential structures for client follow-ups, account descriptions, and polite sales check-ins.
Subject + had + V3 (Past Participle)
Why it works: Asking "Had you reviewed...?" is far softer and more polite than asking "Did you read my message?".
Use the passive voice when the action or result is more important than the person who did it. It keeps complaint handling neutral and professional.
Subject + be + V3 (past participle)
Present: "The profile is being updated."
Past: "The website was completed yesterday."
Future: "The issue will be resolved today."
After be, use V3: was completed, not was complete; is being checked, not is being check.
Use Reported Speech to report client statements, requests, and past meeting points back to your team or manager.
❌ "He said to me that the price is high."
✅ "He told me that the price was high." OR "He said that the price was high."