Present Simple: Speaking & Writing Practice

Talking about routines, opinions, and general truths — with support built in

Part 1: Speaking Practice

A. 10 Daily Routine Questions

Answer out loud in full sentences, using the present simple. These are about your everyday habits and routine.

1. What time do you usually wake up?

2. What do you usually eat for breakfast?
3. How do you get to work or school?
4. What do you do in your free time?
5. Do you exercise every day?
6. What time do you usually go to bed?
7. Do you drink coffee or tea in the morning?
8. What do you do on weekends?
9. How often do you cook at home?
10. Do you check your phone as soon as you wake up?
B. Speaking Cards

Pick a card and talk for at least 1 minute, answering the questions using the present simple.

Group 1 — Talking About Your Day (Present Simple: routines)

Your Morning Routine

1. What time do you wake up?
2. What do you do first?
3. Do you eat breakfast? What do you usually eat?
4. What do you do before leaving the house?
5. How do you get to work or school?
6. What time do you usually start your day?

Your Work or Study Day

1. What time does your work or study start?
2. What do you usually do there?
3. Who do you work or study with?
4. Do you have breaks? What do you do during them?
5. What time does it end?
6. How do you usually feel during the day?

Your Evening Routine

1. What do you do after work or school?

2. Do you cook dinner or eat out?
3. Do you watch TV or read in the evening?
4. Do you spend time with family or friends?
5. What do you do to relax?
6. What time do you usually go to bed?

Your Weekend Routine

1. What do you usually do on Saturdays?
2. What do you usually do on Sundays?
3. Do you meet friends on weekends?
4. Do you play sports or exercise?
5. Do you sleep more on weekends?
6. What's your favorite weekend activity?
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Your Weekly Routine

1. How many days a week do you work or study?

2. What do you do every single day without fail?
3. What do you do only once a week?
4. Do you have a hobby you do weekly?
5. Do you plan your week in advance?
6. Which day of the week do you enjoy most, and why?
Group 2 — Opinions on Basic Topics (Like / Dislike)

For these cards, answer using "I like..." / "I don't like..." / "I love..." / "I hate..."

Food

1. Do you like spicy food?

2. What food do you dislike?
3. What's your favorite meal?
4. Do you like cooking?
5. Is there any food you never eat?
6. Do you prefer sweet or salty food?

Music
1. Do you like listening to music?
2. What kind of music do you like?
3. Is there a music style you dislike?
4. Do you play an instrument?
5. Do you like singing?
6. Who is your favorite singer or band?

Animals

1. Do you like animals?

2. What is your favorite animal?
3. Are you afraid of any animals?
4. Do you have a pet?
5. Do you prefer cats or dogs?
6. Do you like going to the zoo?

Weather

1. Do you like hot weather or cold weather?

2. What's your favorite season?
3. Do you like rainy days?
4. Do you dislike very hot summers?
5. What do you usually do on a rainy day?
6. Do you like snow?
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Sports
1. Do you like playing sports?
2. What sport do you like watching?
3. Is there a sport you dislike?
4. Do you prefer team sports or individual sports?
5. Do you exercise regularly?
6. What's your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Group 3 — Opinions on Medium Topics (Agree / Disagree)

For these cards, answer using "I agree that..." / "I disagree because..." / "I think that..."

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Social Media

1. Do you agree that social media is good for society?

2. Do you think people spend too much time on their phones?
3. Do you agree that social media connects people?
4. Do you think children should use social media?
5. Do you agree that social media affects mental health?
6. What is your overall opinion on social media?

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Money and Happiness

1. Do you agree that money can buy happiness?
2. Do you think rich people are happier?
3. Do you agree that saving money is important?
4. Do you think people should spend money on experiences or things?
5. Do you agree that money is the most important thing in life?
6. What is your opinion on money in general?

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Technology in Daily Life

1. Do you agree that technology makes life easier?

2. Do you think technology has made people lazier?
3. Do you agree that everyone needs a smartphone?
4. Do you think technology is good for children?
5. Do you agree that AI will change our lives?
6. What is your opinion on technology overall?

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Education
1. Do you agree that education is important for success?
2. Do you think school teaches useful skills?
3. Do you agree that learning languages is important?
4. Do you think students study too much?
5. Do you agree that everyone should go to university?
6. What is your opinion on education in general?
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Work-Life Balance

1. Do you agree that work-life balance is important?

2. Do you think people work too much these days?
3. Do you agree that vacations are necessary?
4. Do you think remote work is better than office work?
5. Do you agree that stress affects health?
6. What is your opinion on work-life balance?
Group 4 — General Truths (Facts With Present Simple)

For these cards, describe facts — things that are always true, not opinions.

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The Seasons
1. How many seasons are there?
2. What happens in spring?
3. What happens in summer?
4. What happens in autumn/fall?
5. What happens in winter?
6. Why do the seasons change?

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Water and the Water Cycle

1. Where does rain come from?

2. What happens when water gets very cold?
3. What happens when water boils?
4. Why is water important for life?
5. Where do rivers flow?
6. How does water return to the sky?

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Plants and Growth

1. What do plants need to grow?
2. Where do plants get their energy from?
3. What happens to a seed when you plant it?
4. Why are plants important for the environment?
5. How do plants get water?
6. What do plants produce that humans need to breathe?

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The Earth and the Sun

1. How does the Earth move?

2. What is a day?
3. What is a year?
4. Why do we have day and night?
5. How long does it take the Earth to go around the sun?
6. What happens when a place on Earth turns away from the sun?
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Healthy Habits
1. Why is sleep important for the body?
2. What happens when people don't drink enough water?
3. Why do doctors recommend exercise?
4. What does a balanced diet include?
5. Why is it important to wash your hands?
6. How does stress affect the body?
Part 2: Writing Practice

Each prompt below has helping questions in case you're not sure how to start. Answer each helping question first, then
connect the answers together into one paragraph using the connectors list.

Useful Connectors for Present Simple Writing

To start To sequence To add extra info To contrast/finish

Every day, ... First, ... / Then, ... Also, ... However, ...

Usually, ... After that, ... In addition, ... But, ...

In general, ... Next, ... Because... Overall, ...

On a typical day, ... Finally, ... For example, ... In conclusion, ...

Prompt 1 — Describe your daily routine

Write about a typical day in your life, from morning to night.

Helping questions:
1. What time do you wake up?
2. What do you do in the morning?
3. What do you do in the afternoon?
4. What do you do in the evening?
5. What time do you go to bed?

Useful vocabulary: routine, wake up, get dressed, commute, lunch break, relax, chores, habit, usually, typically
Prompt 2 — Describe your typical week

Write about what your week usually looks like, day by day or in general.

Helping questions:
1. How many days a week do you work or study?
2. What do you usually do on weekdays?
3. What do you usually do on weekends?
4. Is there a day you look forward to? Why?
5. Is there a day you don't enjoy? Why?

Useful vocabulary: weekday, weekend, schedule, busy, free time, appointment, deadline, errands, hobby, break

Prompt 3 — Describe your hometown or city

Write about the place where you live — what it's like, generally speaking.

Helping questions:
1. What is your hometown or city called?
2. Is it big or small? Busy or quiet?
3. What is the weather usually like there?
4. What do people in your city usually do for fun?
5. What do you like most about it?

Useful vocabulary: located, population, crowded, peaceful, neighborhood, landmark, community, climate,
convenient
Prompt 4 — Describe your favorite hobby and why you like it

Write about something you enjoy doing regularly, and explain why.

Helping questions:
1. What is your favorite hobby?
2. How often do you do it?
3. Where do you usually do it?
4. Why do you enjoy it?
5. How does it make you feel?

Useful vocabulary: hobby, enjoy, passionate, skill, practice, relaxing, challenging, creative, improve

Prompt 5 — Describe your job or your studies

Write about what you do for work or what you study — your typical responsibilities and tasks.

Helping questions:

1. What is your job or what do you study?

2. What do you usually do there?
3. Who do you work or study with?
4. What do you like about it?
5. What is challenging about it?

Useful vocabulary: responsibility, task, colleague, classmate, deadline, project, challenging, rewarding, skill
 Present Continuous: Speaking & Writing Practice
Describing what's happening now, temporary situations, and changing trends

Part 1: Speaking Practice

Pick a card and talk for at least 1 minute, answering the questions using the present continuous.

Level: Easy — Describing What's Happening Right Now

These cards are about concrete, visible things happening at this exact moment.

In This Room Right Now

1. What are you doing right now?
2. What am I (your teacher) doing right now?
3. What is the light in the room doing (on/off)?
4. Is anything making noise right now?
5. What are you sitting on?
6. What are you holding, if anything?

Your Family Right Now

1. What is your mother or father doing right now, probably?

2. What are your siblings or children doing right now, probably?
3. Is anyone in your family working right now?
4. Is anyone cooking or eating right now?
5. Is anyone sleeping right now?
6. What do you think they are talking about right now?

Look Out the Window

1. What is the weather doing right now?
2. Are any cars or people moving outside?
3. Are any birds or animals doing anything?
4. Is the sun shining or are clouds covering it?
5. Is anything unusual happening outside?
6. What are your neighbors possibly doing right now?
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Imagine a Busy Street

1. What are the cars doing?
2. What are the pedestrians doing?
3. Is anyone selling anything?
4. Is anyone talking on the phone?
5. Is anything making a loud noise?
6. What is happening at the crosswalk?

What Are You Doing? (Right Now)

1. What are you wearing right now?
2. What are you thinking about right now?
3. Are you feeling comfortable right now?
4. What is your body doing (sitting, standing...)?
5. What are you looking at right now?
6. What are you planning to do after this lesson?
Level: Medium — Temporary Situations & Changes These Days

These cards are about things that are true only for now — this week, this month, or a temporary period — not permanent habits.

This Week

1. What are you working on this week?

2. Are you doing anything different from your normal routine?
3. Is anyone visiting you this week, or are you visiting anyone?
4. Are you preparing for anything this week?
5. Is anything at your job or home changing this week?
6. Are you feeling more busy or more relaxed than usual this week?

A Temporary Change
1. Are you staying somewhere different at the moment (or living in your usual place)?
2. Is your daily routine changing at the moment?
3. Are you eating differently these days (diet, new food)?
4. Are you sleeping more or less than usual these days?
5. Is your mood changing because of something temporary?
6. What is different about your life right now compared to a few months ago?

A Project You're Working On

1. What project or task are you currently working on?
2. Who are you working on it with, if anyone?
3. What part of it are you focusing on right now?
4. Is it going well or is it difficult?
5. When are you planning to finish it?
6. What are you hoping to achieve with it?

Something You're Learning

1. What new skill or subject are you currently learning?
2. Why are you learning it right now?
3. How are you practicing it?
4. Is it getting easier or harder as you go?
5. Who is helping you learn it, if anyone?
6. How are you feeling about your progress?
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Plans You're Making

1. What are you planning for the near future?
2. Are you organizing anything at the moment (a trip, an event)?
3. Who are you making these plans with?
4. What are you preparing before it happens?
5. Are you looking forward to it?
6. Is anything making the planning difficult?
Level: Hard — Trends & Changes in the World

These cards use present continuous to describe ongoing trends and changes — a more abstract, advanced use of the tense.

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Technology Trends
1. How is technology changing the way people communicate?
2. Is artificial intelligence becoming more common in daily life?
3. Are more people working from home nowadays because of technology?
4. Is social media changing how young people think, in your opinion?
5. What technology is becoming more popular right now?
6. Is technology making life easier or more complicated these days?

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Environmental Changes

1. Is the climate changing where you live?

2. Are more people becoming aware of environmental problems?
3. Are companies changing their habits to protect the environment?
4. Is your city doing anything to become greener?
5. Are people using more or less plastic these days?
6. Is renewable energy becoming more common?

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Changes in Your City

1. Is your city growing or changing at the moment?
2. Are new buildings or projects being built nearby?
3. Is traffic getting better or worse these days?
4. Are prices rising in your city right now?
5. Is the population increasing or decreasing?
6. What is changing in your neighborhood specifically?

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Changes in Society
1. Are people's habits changing nowadays?
2. Is the way people work changing?
3. Are attitudes towards mental health changing?
4. Is the cost of living increasing where you live?
5. Are more people traveling nowadays than before?
6. What social change are you noticing the most right now?
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Changes in Your Own Life

1. What is changing in your career or studies right now?
2. Are your priorities changing as you get older?
3. Is your English improving these days?
4. Are your relationships with people changing?
5. Are you becoming more confident about anything lately?
6. What are you working on changing about yourself right now?
Part 2: Writing Practice

Each prompt below has helping questions in case you're not sure how to start. Answer each helping question first, then
connect the answers together into one paragraph using the connectors list.

Useful Connectors for Present Continuous Writing

To start To sequence To add extra info To contrast/finish

Right now, ... At the same time, ... Also, ... However, ...

At the moment, ... Meanwhile, ... In addition, ... But, ...

These days, ... While this is happening, ... Because of this, ... Overall, ...

Currently, ... On top of that, ... For example, ... For now, ...

Prompt 1 — Describe a busy scene happening right now

Imagine (or look around) a busy place — a street, a market, a café — and describe everything happening there right
now.

Helping questions:
1. Where is this scene happening?
2. What are the people doing?
3. What sounds are you hearing?
4. Is anything unusual or interesting happening?
5. How does the scene make you feel?

Useful vocabulary: crowd, vendor, chatting, honking, browsing, strolling, queue, atmosphere, bustling, lively
Prompt 2 — Describe what you are currently working on or learning

Write about a project, task, or skill you're currently focused on.

Helping questions:
1. What are you currently working on or learning?
2. Why are you doing it right now?
3. How are you approaching it (steps, methods)?
4. What challenges are you facing?
5. How is it going so far?

Useful vocabulary: currently, progress, challenge, focus, improve, practice, task, deadline, effort

Prompt 3 — Describe changes happening in your life right now

Write about something that is changing in your life at the moment — big or small.

Helping questions:

1. What is changing in your life right now?

2. When did this change start?
3. How is it affecting you?
4. Are you managing it well?
5. How do you feel about this change?

Useful vocabulary: change, adjust, adapt, transition, growing, shifting, uncertain, exciting, challenging
Prompt 4 — Describe a scene at a place you know well right now

Think of your home, workplace, or a favorite café right now, at this moment, and describe what's probably happening
there.

Helping questions:
1. Which place are you describing?
2. Who is probably there right now?
3. What are they probably doing?
4. What does the place probably look or sound like right now?
5. Why did you choose this place?

Useful vocabulary: probably, likely, imagine, familiar, usual spot, background noise, comfortable, quiet, busy

Prompt 5 — Describe a trend or change happening in the world today

Write about something that is changing in technology, society, or the environment right now.

Helping questions:
1. What trend or change are you writing about?
2. Where is this change happening (your country, the world)?
3. Why is it happening, in your opinion?
4. Is it a positive or negative change?
5. How might it affect the future?

Useful vocabulary: trend, increasingly, rapidly, society, impact, growing, declining, shift, awareness