Daily routines: the present simple

Talk about what you do every day, and what other people do. Lesson 4 of 58: Foundations, CEFR A1.

The present simple

• Use the present simple for habits, routines and things that are always true: “I start work at nine.” With he, she and it the verb takes -s: “She starts at ten.”
• Spelling: go → goes, do → does, watch → watches, study → studies, have → has.
• I get up at seven.
• He works from home on Fridays. (-s with he)
• She has lunch at one. (have → has)
• The shop opens at nine. (Always true)

Don’t and doesn’t

• For “not”, use don’t (I, you, we, they) or doesn’t (he, she, it) and the plain verb: “He doesn’t drink coffee.” The -s moves to “does”, so the verb has none.
• I don’t drive.
• She doesn’t like mornings. (Not “doesn’t likes”)

How often

• Frequency words go before the main verb but after “be”: “I usually walk”, “I’m usually tired.” From most to least: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never.
• I always have tea in the morning.
• We sometimes work late.
• He’s never late. (After “be”)
• Tip: Say the -s you write. “She work” is the most common mistake there is, and listeners notice it.

Lines to have ready

• What does a normal day look like for you? (Asking about somebody’s routine)
• I usually start work at … (Describing your day)
• On weekends I … (Talking about free time)
• How often do you …? (Asking about habits)
• I try to … every day. (A good habit)

Your turn to speak

• Describe a normal weekday from morning to night, then describe what a friend or family member does differently.
• I used at least four time expressions (at seven, after lunch…)
• I used always, usually, sometimes or never
• I said the -s for he or she every time
• I used don’t or doesn’t

Related

• Lesson 3: Numbers, dates and the time
• Lesson 5: Asking questions
• The whole English course

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