Daily Routines Video

My latest Youtube video shows how to talk about daily routines.

If you like this video, please click 'like' and subscribe to my Youtube channel.

Here's the script of the video:

In this video we will learn how to talk about daily routines. First, let's review some vocabulary for things we do every day.
get up
take a shower
get dressed
have breakfast
go to work
start work
have lunch
finish work
arrive home
have dinner
watch tv
go to bed

Now let's look at some questions we can ask about daily routines and the answers we might hear. What time do you usually wake up? I usually wake up at 7 o'clock.
Note the difference between wake up and get up. For example, I usually wake up at 7 o'clock and then I get up or get out of bed ten minutes later.
What's the first thing you do after you get up? I shave.
Do you ever skip breakfast? No, I don't. I never skip breakfast.
How do you get to work? I usually walk.
What do you usually have for lunch? I usually have a salad.
What do you usually do after you get home? I usually take a nap.
What do you like to do in your free time? I like to read books.

Now we will hear what Emily does on a normal day. This story is in the third person present singular so we add an S to the verb. To help describe her daily routine we can use sequence adverbs.
Emily usually wakes up at 7:30.
First, she has breakfast.
Then she brushes her teeth.
Next, she takes a shower.
After that she gets dressed.
Then she puts on make-up.
She goes to work at 8:30. The subway ride takes 20 minutes.
She starts work at 9 o'clock.
Later, she has lunch.
At 5 o'clock she finishes work and goes home.
When she gets home she cooks dinner.
She sometimes goes to the gym in the evening.
Finally, she goes to bed at 11 o'clock.

Here's a homework assignment. Answer these questions by putting your answers in the comments and I'll check your answers.
1. What time do you usually get up?
2. Do you ever skip breakfast?
3. What do you usually have for lunch?
4. What do you usually do after you get home?
5. What do you like to do in your free time?
Answer in full sentences.

Future Plans and Predictions Video

Here is my latest video about the future plans and predictions using be going to.

If you like this video, please click 'like' and subscribe to my Youtube channel.

Here's the script of the video:

In this video we will learn how to use be going to to talk about the future. Be going to has two functions:

1. to describe future intentions and

2. to make predictions

We use be going to when we describe something we intend to do. Be going to is used when the decision was made in the past. If the decision is being made now, we generally use will instead of be going to. Compare these two sentences:

A: We're going to give James a surprise birthday party.

B: Great. I'll buy him a present.

We also use be going to when making predictions about the near future that are based on present evidence rather than our opinion. When talking about outcomes that we are less certain about, we would generally use will rather than be going to.

Compare these two sentences:

I missed my bus. I'm going to be late for work.

I think everyone will have their own robot in the future.

To make sentences we use subject + be + going to + verb. This chart shows the grammar we need to make be going to sentences. Let's look at some examples. What are you going to do tomorrow? I'm going to go jogging. What is she going to do on the weekend? She's going to relax. What are they going to do next summer? They're going to go on vacation.

For negative sentences we add not. I'm not going to lose. I'm going to win. He isn't going to be on time. or He's not going to be on time. He's going to be late. You aren't going to fail the exam. or You're not going to fail the exam. You're going to pass.

Here are some examples of yes / no questions. Am I going to be busy today? No, you're not. Is it going to rain? Yes, it is. Are they going to give her the job? Yes, they are.

In informal spoken English we often say gonna instead of going to. However, we would never use gonna in written English and it shouldn't be used in formal speech. Here's an example: I'm gonna watch a movie tonight.

Family Video

Here is my latest video about the family.

If you like this video, please click 'like' and subscribe to my Youtube channel.


Here's the script of the video:

In this video we will learn how to talk about family. First let's review the vocabulary by looking at a family tree.

Hi. My name's Rick. Let me tell you about my family. I'm married. This is my wife. I am her husband. We have two children. One son and one daughter. I have an older brother. His wife is my sister-in-law. They also have one son and one daughter. Their son is my nephew and their daughter is my niece. Then there's my mother and father. At the top of my family tree, there's my grandmother and grandfather.

Now let's review some of the questions we can ask about family and the answers you might hear.

How many brothers and sisters do you have? I have two sisters.

How many brothers and sisters does Jason have? He's an only child.

Do you have any siblings? Yes, I do. I have two brothers.

Does she have any siblings? No, she doesn't. She's an only child.

Tell me about your family. I come from a big family. I have a baby sister and an older brother.

Tell me about her family. She comes from a small family. She has one younger brother.

Are you married? Yes, I am. Do you have any children? Yes, I do. I have a son and a daughter.

Is he married? No, he isn't. He's single.