English · B1 · Speaking · about 5 min
Report progress in five lines: done, on track, issue, next, need.
Every Monday, Pavlo has two minutes in his team's stand-up to update everyone on the website project. Status updates follow a reliable pattern: announce the topic, say what's finished, say whether you're on schedule, flag one issue, give the next step, and say what you need from others. Short, factual sentences work better than long explanations.
MomentYou announce the update.
Say thisHere's a quick update on the website project.
Why'Here's a quick update on …' signals a short, structured report.
MomentYou say what's done.
Say thisWe've finished the design phase and started development.
WhyPresent perfect: finished work that matters now.
MomentYou confirm the schedule.
Say thisWe're on track to launch on the 15th.
Why'On track to + verb': on schedule for a date.
MomentYou flag an issue.
Say thisOne issue is that the payment page is taking longer than expected.
Why'One issue is that …' + present continuous for an ongoing problem.
MomentYou give next steps.
Say thisNext week, I'll be testing the checkout with the QA team.
WhyFuture continuous: an activity in progress next week.
MomentYou state what you need.
Say thisI need sign-off from finance by Friday.
Why'I need … by + day': a clear request with a deadline.
| Moment | Say this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You announce the update. | Here's a quick update on the website project. | 'Here's a quick update on …' signals a short, structured report. |
| You say what's done. | We've finished the design phase and started development. | Present perfect: finished work that matters now. |
| You confirm the schedule. | We're on track to launch on the 15th. | 'On track to + verb': on schedule for a date. |
| You flag an issue. | One issue is that the payment page is taking longer than expected. | 'One issue is that …' + present continuous for an ongoing problem. |
Use the present perfect for completed work with present relevance: ‘We've finished …’. Use the present continuous for ongoing problems (‘is taking longer’) and the future continuous for planned activity (‘I'll be testing’). ‘On track to + verb’ means ‘on schedule’. ‘By Friday’ = no later than Friday.
Lead with the headline (on track or not) if your manager is in a hurry. Flag problems early and neutrally — ‘one issue is …’ sounds professional, not alarming. Always end with a clear ask and a deadline.
Related topics: /topics/english/b2/meetings/disagreeing-politely, /topics/english/b1/work/requesting-more-time. To keep going, continue with the English course on MyAnya.
Announce the update, say what's done with the present perfect, confirm you're on track, flag one issue, give next steps with will be + -ing, and state what you need by when.
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It's your turn in the stand-up. How do you start?
Here's a quick update on the website project.
'Here's a quick update on …' signals a short, structured report.
Pavlo's turn comes in the Monday stand-up.
We've finished the design phase and started development.
Present perfect: finished work that matters now.
Design was completed last week.
We're on track to launch on the 15th.
'On track to + verb': on schedule for a date.
The launch date hasn't changed.
One issue is that the payment page is taking longer than expected.
'One issue is that …' + present continuous for an ongoing problem.
The payment integration is slower than planned.
Next week, I'll be testing the checkout with the QA team.
Future continuous: an activity in progress next week.
QA testing is booked for next week.
I need sign-off from finance by Friday.
'I need … by + day': a clear request with a deadline.
Finance must approve before launch.
| You give next steps. | Next week, I'll be testing the checkout with the QA team. | Future continuous: an activity in progress next week. |
| You state what you need. | I need sign-off from finance by Friday. | 'I need … by + day': a clear request with a deadline. |