Present Simple / Daily Routine
Uses of the Present Simple
At higher levels, the Present Simple is not only for daily routines or habits. It is also used for:
• Routines and habits: She commutes to work every day by train.
• General truths and facts: Water expands when it freezes.
• Permanent situations: He works as a project manager in Berlin.
• Schedules and timetables: The train leaves at 6:45 tomorrow morning.
• Commentaries / narratives: Ronaldo passes the ball, he shoots, and he scores!
Form and Structures
• Third person singular: add -s/-es (She teaches, He watches).
• Negative: do not / does not + base verb (He doesn’t attend meetings on Fridays.).
• Questions: Do you work from home? / Does she usually drive to the office?
• Emphatic use: I do appreciate your help.
Daily Routine Vocabulary
• wake up early / sleep in / hit the snooze button
• commute / catch the bus / drive to work / cycle to class
• grab a coffee / have a quick breakfast / skip breakfast
• attend meetings / manage emails / meet deadlines
• work remotely / work overtime / take a lunch break
• unwind / do chores / run errands / prepare dinner
• binge-watch a series / read the news / go jogging
• have an early night / stay up late / fall asleep instantly
Frequency Adverbs and Expressions
• consistently, regularly, occasionally, rarely, seldom, hardly ever, once in a while, from
time to time
Examples:
• She consistently checks her emails before breakfast.
• I rarely go out on weeknights.
• They work remotely from time to time.
Time Expressions
• at + precise times: at dawn, at midnight, at 6:30 sharp
• in + longer periods: in the morning, in my free time, in the long run
• on + days/dates: on weekdays, on the 5th of June, on Monday mornings
• every, each, once/twice/three times a…: I exercise three times a week.
Practice Exercises
A. Complete the sentences with the Present Simple form of the verb in brackets.
1. She always ______ (commute) by train, even when it ______ (rain).
2. My manager rarely ______ (attend) meetings before 9 a.m.
3. The bus to the city centre ______ (leave) at 7:15 sharp.
4. I occasionally ______ (skip) breakfast if I’m in a hurry.
5. What time ______ the conference usually ______ (start)?
B. Correct the mistakes.
1. He always checks consistently his phone during meetings.
2. My colleagues is seldom late to work.
3. They works remotely from time to time.
4. The shop close always at 6 p.m.
5. Does usually she prepare dinner at home?
C. Rewrite the sentences using a stronger adverb/expression of frequency.
1. I sometimes drink coffee in the evening.
2. We usually order takeout on Fridays.
3. She never goes to the gym.
4. He often stays up late.
5. They occasionally travel abroad.
D. Writing task
Write a short paragraph (6–8 sentences) describing your weekday routine. Use:
• at least 4 advanced daily routine expressions
• at least 3 adverbs of frequency or frequency expressions
• at least 1 example of Present Simple for timetables
Answers:
A.
1. commutes / rains
2. attends
3. leaves
4. skip
5. does … start
B.
1. He consistently checks his phone during meetings.
2. My colleagues are seldom late to work.
3. They work remotely from time to time.
4. The shop always closes at 6 p.m.
5. Does she usually prepare dinner at home?
C.
(Example answers)
1. I occasionally drink coffee in the evening.
2. We consistently order takeout on Fridays.
3. She hardly ever goes to the gym.
4. He regularly stays up late.
5. They sometimes travel abroad.