Welcome to Lesson 13: My Daily Routine. In this lesson, you will learn how to describe the activities you do every single day. Talking about your routine is one of the most common ways to start a conversation in English. By learning these phrases, you can tell others about your habits, your work schedule, and your hobbies.
To talk about routines, we use the Present Simple tense. This tense is used for facts, habits, and regular occurrences. When using the pronouns "I," "you," "we," and "they," the verb stays in its base form. However, for "he," "she," and "it," we usually add an "s" or "es" to the end of the verb.
Let's look at the essential vocabulary for the morning. These are the verbs and phrases you need to describe the start of your day.
| English Word | Phonetic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Wake up | /weɪk ʌp/ | To stop sleeping |
| Brush teeth | /brʌʃ tiːθ/ | To clean teeth |
| Take a shower | /teɪk ə ˈʃaʊər/ | To wash the body |
| Have breakfast | /həv ˈbrekfəst/ | To eat the first meal |
| Get dressed | /ɡet drest/ | To put on clothes |
The phrase for waking up is: [[pronounce:I wake up at seven o'clock.:en]]
Now, let's explore the grammar rule for the third person singular (he, she, it). Notice how the verb changes when we talk about someone else's routine.
| Subject | Verb Form (Base) | Verb Form (3rd Person) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | wake | wakes | I wake up / She wakes up |
| You | eat | eats | You eat / He eats |
| We | go | goes | We go / It goes |
| They | drink | drinks | They drink / She drinks |
Once you have finished your morning rituals, you likely move to your work or study phase. Common phrases include going to work, attending classes, or checking emails.
[[pronounce:I go to work by bus.:en]]
In the afternoon, you might have a break or a mid-day meal. In English, "lunch" refers to the meal eaten in the middle of the day. Many people say "have lunch" rather than "eat lunch," though both are correct.
[[pronounce:I have lunch at noon.:en]]
After finishing work or school, you return home. This part of the day is often for relaxation, exercise, or chores. "Coming home" or "getting home" are the most natural ways to describe this transition.
[[pronounce:I get home at six p.m.:en]]
Let's see these phrases in a natural conversation between two friends, Sarah and Mark.
Sarah: What time do you wake up, Mark? Mark: I usually wake up at 6:30 a.m. Sarah: Do you have breakfast at home? Mark: Yes, I have coffee and toast. Sarah: That sounds like a great start!
As the day ends, you prepare for sleep. This involves "having dinner" and "going to bed." It is important to distinguish between "going to bed" (the act of moving to the bedroom) and "falling asleep" (the actual start of sleep).
[[pronounce:I go to bed at ten p.m.:en]]
Cultural Note: In English-speaking cultures, "small talk" about daily routines is very common. When someone asks, "How was your day?", they aren't necessarily looking for a detailed list of every action, but rather a general feeling. Common responses include "It was busy!" or "Pretty quiet." Using words like "usually," "always," and "sometimes" helps make your routine sound more natural.
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