---
title: "Simple Verb Tenses"
description: "The simple verb tenses are simple present, simple past and simple future. In technical documentation, avoid any other verb tenses unless you really want to emphasize the sequence of events or actions."
canonical: "https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/styleguide/tw/simple_verb_tenses.html"
breadcrumb: "Style Guide > Plain English > Simple Verb Tenses"
dateModified: "2026-09-03"
---

# Simple Verb Tenses

The simple verb tenses are simple present, simple past and simple future. In technical documentation, avoid any other verb tenses unless you really want to emphasize the sequence of events or actions.

To learn more about verb tenses, see [this Grammarly article](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/verb-tenses/).

::: tip

If you want to provide information on known facts or hypothetical situations and their consequences, you can use conditional sentences — but only of the zero or first type. To learn more about conditional sentences, see [this Grammarly article](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/conditional-sentences/?gclid=CjwKCAiA_eb-BRB2EiwAGBnXXtj0v4Jxzc8cqefv-ZJ2Uy_ZSCy0k_aFoS41pIk-ADK_b8_2Mu97wRoCjvwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds).

:::

## Examples

1. [After you have installed]{.mdhl-incorrect} Veeam Backup & Replication, all you must do is add ESXi hosts that you want to back up.

   [After you install]{.mdhl-correct} Veeam Backup & Replication, all you must do is add ESXi hosts that you want to back up.

2. As soon as you run this action, [plan VMs will be failing over]{.mdhl-incorrect} to their replicas. 

   As soon as you run this action, [plan VMs will fail over]{.mdhl-correct} to their replicas.