My morning

Tell me about your morning.

What do you do every day?
What are you doing differently today?
What are you doing now?

Useful starters:

I usually ...
Every day, I ...
Today, I am ...
At the moment, I am ...

Home and routine words

vacuum [/ˈvækjuːm/]: clean carpets or floors with a vacuum cleaner
I usually vacuum on Saturdays.
do the laundry [/duː ðə ˈlɔːndri/]: wash clothes
I do the laundry every week.
wash the dishes [/wɒʃ ðə ˈdɪʃɪz/]: clean plates, cups, and pans
She is washing the dishes now.
make the bed [/meɪk ðə bed/]: arrange the bed after sleeping
He makes the bed every morning.
tidy up [/ˈtaɪdi ʌp/]: make a room neat and clean
We are tidying up the living room.
cook dinner [/kʊk ˈdɪnə/]: prepare an evening meal
My mum cooks dinner at seven.
feed the pet [/fiːd ðə pet/]: give food to an animal at home
I feed the cat every morning.
take out the rubbish [/teɪk aʊt ðə ˈrʌbɪʃ/]: carry rubbish outside
He is taking out the rubbish.
living room [/ˈlɪvɪŋ ruːm/]: a room for relaxing or watching TV
We watch TV in the living room.
kitchen [/ˈkɪtʃɪn/]: a room where people prepare food
She is in the kitchen.
bathroom [/ˈbɑːθruːm/]: a room with a bath, shower, or toilet
The bathroom is small.
bedroom [/ˈbedruːm/]: a room where people sleep
My bedroom has a desk.
usually [/ˈjuːʒuəli/]: most of the time
I usually get up at seven.
every day [/ˈevri deɪ/]: on each day
They clean every day.
at the moment [/æt ðə ˈməʊmənt/]: now; at this time
I am working at the moment.

Habits and actions happening now

The main contrast

	Present simple	Present continuous
Form	I/you/we/they work; he/she works	am/is/are + verb-ing
Use	habits, routines, facts, schedules	actions happening now, temporary situations, changing situations
Example	She cooks dinner every evening.	She is cooking dinner right now.

English chooses the tense by meaning:

A regular or repeated action → present simple
An action in progress now or around now → present continuous

She washes the dishes every day.

This is her routine.

She is washing the dishes at the moment.

This is happening now.

Forms

Subject	Present simple: cook	Present continuous: cook
I	I cook	I am cooking
You	You cook	You are cooking
We	We cook	We are cooking
They	They cook	They are cooking
He / She / It	She cooks	She is cooking

Spelling reminders

Base verb	Present simple: he/she/it	Present continuous
wash	washes	washing
tidy	tidies	tidying
make	makes	making
vacuum	vacuums	vacuuming

Time clues

Often used with routines	Often used with actions in progress
always	now
usually	right now
often	at the moment
sometimes	today
never	this week
every day	currently
on Mondays	these days
at 7 o’clock

Time expressions help, but always check the meaning.

I usually cook dinner at 7. → routine
I am cooking dinner at 7 today because we have guests. → a temporary plan for today

States, not actions

Some verbs usually describe a state, not an action in progress. Use the present simple with these verbs:

Stative verb	Example
believe	I believe you.
belong	These keys belong to my sister.
know	I know the answer.
want	We want a bigger kitchen.
prefer	I prefer tea to coffee.

I know the answer.

I am knowing the answer.

Some verbs can have different meanings:

Meaning	Example
opinion: think	I think this flat is lovely.
mental activity now: think	I am thinking about a new sofa.
possession: have	We have a small bathroom.
activity: have	We are having dinner now.

Common mistakes

Common mistake	Better sentence	Why
I am working every day.	I work every day.	Every day describes a routine.
She cook dinner every evening.	She cooks dinner every evening.	Add -s with he, she, and it.
He taking out the rubbish now.	He is taking out the rubbish now.	Use is + verb-ing.
I am knowing the answer.	I know the answer.	Know is usually stative.
We tidy up at the moment.	We are tidying up at the moment.	The action is happening now.

Choose the correct tense

Read each sentence. Use the time clue and the meaning.

Find the tense clue

Connect each sentence with the correct tense.

I vacuum every Saturday.: Present simple
I am vacuuming at the moment.: Present continuous
She usually makes the bed before breakfast.: Present simple
They are tidying up the kitchen now.: Present continuous

Look at another set of clues

Connect each sentence with the correct tense.

We wash the dishes every day.: Present simple
He is feeding the pet right now.: Present continuous
My sister cooks dinner on Mondays.: Present simple
I am doing the laundry this week.: Present continuous

Choose the best form

My brother [___] the rubbish every Tuesday.

Look! Mum [___] dinner in the kitchen.

I [___] this blue sofa because it is comfortable.

Complete the verb form

She [___] dinner right now.

She [___] dinner every evening.

We [___] the living room at the moment.

These keys [___] to my sister.

A day in my life

I live in a small flat with my sister and our cat, Milo. On weekdays, I usually get up at seven o’clock and make my bed before breakfast. My sister often cooks eggs, and I wash the dishes. We leave home at eight. I work in a bookshop, so I meet many people every day. In the evening, I usually do the laundry or vacuum the living room. Milo always follows me around the flat.

Today is different. I am working from home because the bookshop is closed. At the moment, I am sitting in the kitchen and answering emails. My sister is tidying up the bedroom, and Milo is sleeping on my chair. We are preparing for our parents’ visit this evening, so we are cleaning more than usual.

Difficult words

flat — an apartment
weekdays — Monday to Friday
bookshop — a shop that sells books
follows — goes behind someone
closed — not open for customers
answering emails — writing replies to emails
preparing — getting ready for something
more than usual — more often or more than is normal

Talk about the text

What does the blogger usually do in the evening?
Why is the blogger working from home today?
Where is the blogger sitting at the moment?
What are the blogger’s sister and Milo doing now?

Choose the tense in three steps

Ask yourself	Choose
Is it a habit, fact, or schedule?	Present simple
Is it happening now or temporary?	Present continuous
Is it a state: know, want, prefer, believe, or belong?	Present simple

Key points

Present simple: routines, habits, facts, and schedules.
Present continuous: actions happening now and temporary situations.
Usually and every day often introduce routines.
At the moment often introduces an action in progress.
Use am/is/are + verb-ing for the present continuous.
Stative verbs normally use the present simple.

Household vocabulary checklist

□ vacuum
□ do the laundry
□ wash the dishes
□ make the bed
□ tidy up
□ cook dinner
□ feed the pet
□ take out the rubbish
□ living room
□ kitchen
□ bathroom
□ bedroom
□ usually
□ every day
□ at the moment

Check your understanding

Exit sentence: Say one thing you usually do at home and one thing you are doing today.