Asking Questions In Business Part 2

In business communication, asking the right questions is essential for gathering information, solving problems, and making informed decisions. Different past tenses help clarify details about previous events. In this First Business English article we help to explain how to ask questions using the past simple, past continuous, and past perfect tenses in a business context, along with useful vocabulary and an example paragraph to help you get started asking great questions at work.

1. The Three Past Tenses and How to Use Them in Questions

Past Simple (did + base verb)

Used to ask about completed actions at a specific time in the past.

• “Did you attend the meeting yesterday?”

• “When did the company launch this product?”

• “Who signed the contract last week?”

Past Continuous (was/were + verb + ing)

Used to ask about ongoing past actions or events that were interrupted.

• “What were you doing when the client called?”

• “Were you working on the presentation at 3 p.m.?”

• “Why was the system not working during the meeting?”

Past Perfect (had + past participle)

Used to ask about an action that happened before another past event.

• “Had you already finished the report before the deadline?”

• “Who had approved the budget before the project started?”

• “Why had the supplier delayed the delivery?”

2. Useful Business Vocabulary for Asking Questions

• Deadline – The date when something must be completed.

• Proposal – A business suggestion or plan.

• Meeting minutes – Notes from a business meeting.

• Budget – Financial plan for a business.

• Supplier – A company that provides goods or services.

• Project launch – The start of a business project.

• Customer feedback – Opinions from customers about a product or service.

• Contract agreement – A formal business deal.

3. Example Paragraph Using Business Questions

Yesterday, our team discussed the company’s latest project. The manager asked, “Did you receive the supplier’s proposal on time?” One colleague replied, “No, the supplier had already delayed the delivery before we contacted them.” Then, another team member asked, “Were you checking the budget while preparing the project plan?” The finance manager responded, “Yes, we were reviewing the numbers when the CEO requested an update.” Finally, the director asked, “Had we finalized the contract agreement before we announced the project launch?” These questions helped the team analyze past actions and make better decisions for future projects.

4. Final Thoughts

Using past tense questions in business conversations helps clarify important details, confirm past actions, and improve decision-making. First Business English knows that practicing past simple, past continuous, and past perfect questions allows professionals to communicate effectively in meetings, emails, and negotiations. Mastering these structures will make business interactions smoother and more efficient. To learn more or to simply practices asking great questions, simply book a lesson with us at First Business English.

Good Luck. Keep learning with First Business English. Best Business English Online.

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