Free-time Activities Video

My latest Youtube video shows how to talk about free-time activities.

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 free-time activities. We can use 'like' to talk about the things we do in our free time. 'Like' can be followed by a gerund or to-infinitive. The difference in meaning is often small. The gerund or -ing form places a slight emphasis on the action. So let's start by using gerunds to talk about free-time activities. Let's review some questions and answers.
What do you like doing in your free time? I like listening to music.
Do you like playing video games? Yes, I do.

For sentences in the third person singular in the present tense we add s to the auxiliary verb.
What does Mark like doing in his free time? He likes playing golf.
Does Rachel like riding a bicycle? No, she doesn't.

The degree to which we like or dislike something can be described from love to hate.
Julie loves reading books.
Sarah really likes shopping.
Ben likes playing chess.
Michelle doesn't like ironing shirts.
Claire really doesn't like cooking.
Brian hates snowboarding.

To keep the conversation going we can ask follow up questions.
What do you like doing in your free time? I like doing taekwondo.
What belt are you? I'm a black belt.
What do you like doing in your free time? I like jogging.
How far do you usually run? I usually run for 5 kilometers.

We can also use to-infinitive to talk about likes. Let's review some questions and answers using to-infinitive.
What do you like to do in your free time? I like to play cellphone games.
Do you like to lift weights? Yes, I do.
What do you do to stay in shape? I like to do yoga.
What does Janet like to do in her free time? She likes to watch tv.
Does Emma like to play cards? Yes, she does.
What does Jason do to stay in shape? He likes to play tennis.

Here's a homework assignment. Answer these questions by putting your answers in the comments and I'll check your answers.
1. What do you like doing in your free time?
2. What do you like doing on Saturday night?
3. What do you like doing on Sunday morning?
4. What do you do to stay in shape?
5. Do you like swimming?
Answer in full sentences.

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.

Present Continuous Video

Here is my latest video about the present continuous.

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 the present continuous. We use the present continuous to describe actions that have started, but haven't finished yet. To make present continuous sentences we use be + verb+ing. This chart shows the grammar we need to make present continuous sentences. Let's look at some examples.

What are you doing? I'm reading a book.

What is he doing? He's taking a nap.

What are they doing? They're playing video games.

For negative sentences we add 'not'.

I'm not playing the flute. I'm playing the guitar.

She isn't playing video games. or She's not playing video games. She's listening to music.

You aren't taking a test. or You're not taking a test. You're doing homework.

Here are some examples of yes/no questions.

Am I getting better? Yes, you are.

Is he playing golf? No, he isn't. What is he doing? He's playing tennis.

Are they watching a movie? Yes, they are.

The action we are talking about is not necessarily happening at that time. We can use the present continuous for any action that has started, but which hasn't finished yet. Listen to this conversation as an example:

A: Are you still learning French?
B: Yeah. I'm taking evening classes. What are you doing over the vacation?
A: I'm learning to surf.

Neither of these people are doing those actions now, but they are actions they have started and haven't finished yet.

We also use the present continuous when talking about the near future. We use future time expressions and context to show we are talking about the future. Consider these examples:

What are you doing after class? I'm taking a piano lesson.

What is she doing on the weekend? She's going shopping.

What are they doing next week? They're taking a vacation.

Jobs Video

Here is my latest video about jobs.

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


Here's the script of the video:

First let's review the vocabulary for some common jobs.

What does Lucy do? She's a housewife. What does a housewife do? A housewife manages her home.

What's Derek's job? He's a dentist. What does a dentist do? A dentist cares for teeth.

What's Sarah's occupation? She's a pharmacist. Where does a pharmacist work? A pharmacist works in a pharmacy.

What does Colin do? He's a mechanic. Where does a mechanic work? A mechanic works in a garage.

What does Mark do? He's retired. What did he do before he retired? He was an accountant.

What does Claire do for a living? She unemployed, but she has an interview for a job today.

Now we will review some follow-up questions related to jobs.

What's your job? I'm a salesperson. How do you get to work? I usually drive? I sometimes take the subway.

What's your occupation? I'm an office worker. What days do you work? I work Monday to Friday.

What do you do for a living? I'm an engineer. Do you like your job? Yes, I do. It's interesting.

What's your job? I'm a travel agent. Where do you work? I work for ABC Travel Company.

What do you do? I'm a student. What do you study? I study economics.

Now let's play a fun game. I'm thinking of one these jobs. Can you guess who I'm thinking about by asking yes/no questions?

Do they wear a uniform? Yes, they do.

Do they wear a hat? No, they don't.

Do they help people? Yes, they do.

Can you guess who it is?

Is she a nurse? Yes, she is.

Let's play again. Can you guess who I'm thinking of?

Do you they use tools? No, they don't.

Do they wear a hat? Yes, they do.

Do they work on a plane? Yes, they do.

Is the person a flight attendant? No.

Then it must be the pilot. Yes, you're right.

Present Perfect Video

Here is my latest video about the present perfect.

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 the present perfect. We use the present perfect to talk about events that affect the present. It is the present result that is the focus, rather than the moment of completion. To make present perfect sentences we use have/has plus the past participle. The present perfect has three functions:
1. to describe events in the past at an unspecified time.
2. to describe recent past events.
3. and to describe past events which are continuing through the present.

We talk about experience using the present perfect as events that took place at unspecified times. We use 'ever' to indicate in the lifetime of the subject, and 'never' for negative statements. For example: Have you ever been to New York? No, I haven't. I've never been to New York. Note we use 'been' to describe a completed action, and 'gone' to describe an action that is still happening. Lucy has been to London. This means 'She went to London in the past.' Lucy has gone to London. This means 'She is in London now.'

We also use the present perfect to describe recent events, such as: I have eaten lunch, so I'm not hungry. We often use the present perfect to find out if someone has experienced something, and then talk about that event in the past tense. Have you watched any good movies recently? Yes, I have. I watched The Avengers last weekend.

And finally we use the present perfect to describe past events which are continuing through the present, such as: How long have you been studying English? I have been studying English for five years. Or I have been studying English since I was 15 years old. We use 'yet' to indicate if an expected event has happened. Have you done your homework yet? Yes, I have.