When talking about habits in English, it’s important to distinguish between present and past habits. We use different structures to convey these ideas clearly. Here’s how:
Expressing Present Habits
To talk about things we do regularly in the present, we use the present simple tense along with adverbs of frequency.
- Present Simple: This is the most common way to describe daily routines or repeated actions.
- I drink coffee every morning.
- She goes to the gym twice a week.
- Adverbs of Frequency: These help indicate how often something happens.
- I always wake up early.
- He usually takes the bus to work.
- They sometimes watch TV before bed.
Common adverbs of frequency include: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, and never.
Expressing Past Habits
When talking about things we did regularly in the past but no longer do, we often use used to.
- Used to: This structure is used to describe repeated past actions or states that are no longer true.
- I used to play football every weekend (but I don’t anymore).
- She used to live in London before moving to Manchester.
Comparing Present and Past Habits
- I usually walk to work (present habit), but I used to drive when I lived in the countryside (past habit).
- He never drinks tea now, but he used to have it every morning.
By using these structures correctly, you can make your English sound more natural and precise. Try practising by writing a few sentences about your own present and past habits!
Put this theory into practice with this quiz!
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