Unit 4: Everyday Life | Basic English Course 1

To identify daily routines

In this module, students learn to recognize and explain everyday actions: waking up, getting ready, going to school or work, studying, eating, relaxing, and sleeping. The grammar focus is the simple present because routines are repeated actions.

Topic 1: What is a daily routine?

Meaning

A daily routine is a group of actions a person normally does every day or almost every day. In English, we identify routines with action verbs and time expressions.

person + routine verb + time/detail

Guided examples

I wake up at 6:00. This identifies the first action of the day.

She goes to work in the morning. This identifies an action and a part of the day.

They study after school. This identifies what happens after another activity.

Topic 2: Simple present for routines

Why simple present?

Use the simple present because a routine is not happening only right now. It is normal, repeated, or typical.

I / you / we / they + base verb he / she / it + verb + s/es

Forms

I get up early. Base verb after I.

She gets up early. Add -s after she.

He watches TV at night. Add -es to verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -x, -s, -o.

Negative form

Use do not / don't with I, you, we, and they. Use does not / doesn't with he, she, and it. After doesn't, the main verb returns to the base form.

She doesn't wakes up. = incorrect She doesn't wake up early. = correct

Mini practice

Change the subject: I study at night.

Correct answer: She studies at night.

Topic 3: Questions to identify routines

Use do / does

To ask about routines, put do or does before the subject. Use what, when, or what time when you need more information.

Do + you + verb? What time + do + you + verb?

Useful questions

What do you do in the morning? I take a shower and have breakfast.

What time do you wake up? I wake up at 6:30.

Does your brother study at night? Yes, he does.

Topic 4: Time expressions and why we use at

Use at for exact clock times

At points to one exact moment on the clock. That is why English says at 6:00, at 7:30, at noon, and at midnight.

I wake up at 6:00.

Use in for parts of the day

Use in when the time is a larger period, not an exact clock time.

in the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening

Use on for days

Use on for days and repeated days of the week.

on Monday / on Fridays / on the weekend

American English note: In the United States, people often say on the weekend. British English often uses at the weekend. This course uses American English.

Topic 5: Daily routine vocabulary with audio

wake upphrasal verbto stop sleeping

get upphrasal verbto leave the bed

brush my teethroutine actionto clean your teeth

take a showerroutine actionto shower

get dressedroutine actionto put on clothes

have breakfastroutine actionto eat in the morning

go to workroutine actionto travel to your job

go to schoolroutine actionto travel to school

go to bedroutine actionto go to sleep

Topic 6: Adverbs of frequency

Adverbs of frequency explain how often a routine happens. They are important because daily-life English is not only about the action; it is also about how regular the action is.

always100%

Use it when something happens every time. I always brush my teeth.

almost always90-95%

Use it when there are very few exceptions. She almost always gets up early.

usually80%

Use it for a normal habit. I usually have breakfast at home.

often70%

Use it when something happens many times. We often study after class.

frequently70%

Similar to often, but a little more formal. He frequently works late.

sometimes50%

Use it when something happens, but not regularly. I sometimes walk to school.

occasionally30-40%

Less common than sometimes. She occasionally eats out.

rarely10-20%

Use it when something almost never happens. I rarely drink soda.

hardly ever5%

Use it for almost zero. We hardly ever eat fast food.

never0%

Use it when something does not happen. He never skips breakfast.

Position	Rule	Example	Why?
Before the main verb	Subject + adverb + verb	I usually study at night.	The adverb modifies the action: study.
After be	Subject + am/is/are + adverb	She is always busy.	With be, the adverb comes after the verb.
At the beginning	Sometimes / Occasionally + sentence	Sometimes, I walk to work.	This adds variety and sounds natural.
With how often	How often + do/does + subject + verb?	How often do you work out?	The question asks for frequency.

To describe sports routines and healthy life activities

In this module, students learn how to describe exercise, sports, hobbies, and healthy habits with correct English structures. The focus is not only vocabulary; it is choosing the right verb pattern.

Topic 1: Sports and hobbies need different verbs

Structure	Use it for	Examples	Common mistake
play + sport/game	Team sports, ball sports, games	I play soccer. She plays basketball. They play chess.	Do not say "practice soccer" for a normal hobby.
go + -ing	Movement activities	I go running. We go swimming. He goes cycling.	Do not say "go to running".
do + activity	Exercise, yoga, martial arts	I do yoga. She does karate. They do exercise.	Do not say "make yoga".
work out	General exercise	I work out three times a week.	Do not add "in" after work out.

Topic 2: Healthy life vocabulary with audio

work outphrasal verbto exercise

go runninggo + -ingto run as exercise

go swimminggo + -ingto swim as exercise

play soccerplay + sportto participate in soccer

do yogado + activityto practice yoga

eat healthy foodhealthy habitto eat good food for your body

drink waterhealthy habitto stay hydrated

sleep wellhealthy habitto get good sleep

stretchhealthy habitto move your body before or after exercise

Topic 3: Describing a sports routine

Complete structure

A strong sports routine sentence usually includes the activity, frequency, and time.

subject + frequency + activity + time

Examples

I work out three times a week.

She usually goes running in the morning.

We play soccer on Saturdays at 4:00.

Frequency phrases

Use phrases like once a week, twice a week, and three times a week after the action.

I go swimming twice a week.

Build it

Activity: yoga. Frequency: usually. Time: at night.

Answer: I usually do yoga at night.

Topic 4: Phrasal verbs and idioms for this unit

Phrasal verbs

wake up: stop sleeping. get up: leave the bed. work out: exercise. cut down on: reduce something unhealthy.

I want to cut down on soda.

Idioms

early bird: a person who starts the day early. night owl: a person who is active late at night. once in a blue moon: very rarely.

I am a night owl, so I study at night.

cut down onphrasal verbto reduce something

early birdidioma person who wakes up early

night owlidioma person who is active late at night

once in a blue moonidiomvery rarely

Open idioms bank

Practice Connection

Move from explanation to practice

After studying both modules, go to Practice Lab for sentence building, sports-structure grammar, conversation practice, then complete the listening and video comprehension tasks.

Open unit practice Sports grammar Pair conversation Open listening Open video activity