General English Lower Intermediate Level
Lessons 2

Our Lifestyle

1. What is our lifestyle like?

You

2. Watch the video about people’s lifestyle


Expressions to work on

I start work at 9:30 and usually finish at around 6

What do you do?

I am a teacher. I teach science at a secondary school.

I am a receptionist for

I am an English Teacher actually

I work for the Government

I am a student

I am retired

I teach English in Abu-Dabi

Tell me about your daily routine

I get up at about half past six, grab a cup of tea, sometimes some cereals; I catch my bus at about 20 past seven

I get up at about six, I don’t have breakfast, because I don’t have time, I jump to my car and go to work.

It takes me about twenty minutes to get to my place, take French course; I leave at 5, get back home at about 6

I work from half past 8 until 3:30 I finish, I catch the cheap tube, and then I make some food

I get into work, always a meeting in the morning, always help

I go for a walk every morning, I go to the gym, I go for swimming

Usually I wake up, make up a couple of cups coffee, and check my email at the computer

I work rom 9 and at about 3:30 I am finished

What do you like about your daily routine?

I like going to work, I enjoy teaching, I like getting home and relax in the evenings

It changes, it is always different, it is enjoyable, I enjoy my work

I like the fact that I have free time now

I love what I am doing, I like my course

I like to see the people I work with, I like the students, I like my job, it is a very pleasant place to be

What don’t you like about your daily routine?

I don’t like the rash in the mornings to get the tube

The worst thing is getting up, especially when it is winter, dark and cold

There is nothing I like about my daily routine I am a very happy person

Getting up at about half past six

When I come back, a long traffic

Sometimes I am very very busy; sometimes people can be very angry or upset

3. Emma's got a problem...

Smart or scruffy?

This unit is all about fashion and clothes.

You'll pick up some very useful vocabulary for talking about clothes and fashion, and we'll take a good look at the present simple and present continuous tenses.

So - let's get started. Emma's got a problem with her clothes. Watch the video see what's wrong. While you're watching, listen out for the words and phrases that Emma uses to talk about her clothes.


Transcript

Emma

Hi again. I'm Emma.

I had a real problem today deciding what to wear.

I wanted to wear something smart for work but I'm going out with my friends tonight so I wanted to wear something casual as well.

I usually wear a skirt, a shirt and a scarf but today, I chose jeans and a jumper. Hmm... but then I thought I look too scruffy, so I'm wearing this dress instead.

What do you think?

Session Vocabulary
smart
nice and stylish
casual
informal and comfortable
jumper
warm piece of clothing that you pull over your head and that covers your upper body and arms
scruffy
not neat or clean
trendy
modern, popular and fashionable
suit
smart jacket and trousers or skirt made from the same material

4. To do

Can you remember what Emma said about her clothes? Let's find out

  1. I usually wear a skirt, a shirt and a
  2. I'm wearing this instead.
  3. I wanted to wear something as well.
  4. I wanted to wear something for work.
  5. I chose and a jumper.
  6. I look too

Activity 2
What do Londoners wear?

Meet Londoners Stuart, Charlotte and Ed.

One of them said he (or she) is 'quite scruffy' - who do you think it is?

Stuart

My name is Stuart. I am an accountant.

I'm wearing a dark blue suit with a white shirt and black shoes.

I normally wear a suit every day. At the weekends I wear different clothes. Normally shorts, t-shirt, hoodie.

Charlotte

Hi, my name's Charlotte. I work in branding.

Right now I'm wearing a grey jumper, some black jeans and some black trainers.

I am quite scruffy but normally I wear smarter clothes.

But at the weekend, I'm smart casual.

Ed

My name's Ed. I'm a graphic designer.

I'm wearing a red hoodie, some black jeans and some grey trainers.

For work, I wear casual clothes, occasionally smart clothes. It's alright if I wear scruffy clothes at work, as long as it's not every day.

Yeah - at weekends I wear jeans and a t-shirt as well.

Session Vocabulary

  • hoodie / hoody – casual clothing for the top part of your body, usually made of cotton, with a hood to cover your head
  • jumper – warm clothing for the top part of your body, usually made of wool
  • trainers – comfortable sports shoes
  • smart casual – describes clothes that are a mix of smart and casual, for example, nice jeans and a shirt
  • graphic designer – someone who designs pictures and text for things like websites, magazines and posters
  • branding – giving a company a particular look, feel or design to help it sell its products or services
Grammar Reference

Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present simple and present continuous


Meaning and use

We use the present simple for:

  • things that we do regularly
  • facts and truths 
  • habits
  • permanent situations

We often use adverbs of frequency and time expressions like every day, once a week, on Fridays.

I check my email every day. (regular activity)

Sheryl works at the bank. (permanent situation)

  • We use the present continuous for:
  • things that are happening now – at the time we are speaking,
  • temporary situations
  • activities that are in progress

We often use time expressions like at the moment, today, this week.

Just a minute. I’m checking my email. (now)

She usually works in London, but she’s working from home this week. (temporary situation)

I’m studying Economics (activity in progress)


Form - Positive

The present simple has the same form as the infinitive without 'to'’ for I, you, we and they. For heshe and it, we add -s or -es to the infinitive.

  • They live in Rome.
  • Julian starts work at nine o’clock and finishes at five.

The present continuous for I is subject + am + verb-ing. For you, we and theysubject + are + -verb-ing. For hesheitsubject + is + verb-ing. We usually use contractions (I’m, he’s, they’re, etc.) when we are speaking.

  • Can I call you back later? We’re having dinner right now.

Form - Negative

The negative present simple is subject + don’t (do not) + infinitive without 'to' for Iyou, we and they, and subject + doesn’t (does not) + infinitive without 'to' for he, she and it.

  • I don’t eat meat. 
  • It doesn’t usually snow in October.

The negative present continuous for I is I’m not + verb-ing.  For you, we and theysubject + aren’t + verb-ing. For he, she<, itsubject + isn’t + verb-ing.

  • He isn’t answering his mobile at the moment.

Form - questions
present simple question form is do/does + subject + infinitive without ‘to’.

Do you read the news online every day? 

Does the supermarket sell stamps?

The present continuous question form is am/is/are+ subject + verb-ing

What are you doing?

Is it raining?


Take note: spelling changes

In the present simple, regular verbs end in -s or -es, but -y changes to -i.

  • marry – marries
  • study – studies

In the present continuous, all verbs end in -ing, but sometimes the spelling changes.

  • make – making
  • sit – sitting
  • die – dying     

Take note: spelling

In the present simple, regular verbs end in -s or -es, but -y changes to -i.

  • marry – marries      
  • study – studies 

In the present continuous, all main verbs end in -ing, but sometimes the spelling changes.

  • make – making
  • sit – sitting
  • die – dying

Take note: verbs we don’t use in the present continuous

There are some verbs that we don’t usually use in the continuous form. They are often verbs linked to the senses and thinking, for example: hear, see, smell, hate, know, understand, believe, want, need.

  • WrongCould you explain that again? I’m not understanding.
  • CorrectCould you explain that again? I don’t understand.

Practice

Match questions 1-8 with answers a-h.

1. Does it snow in the UK? a. My home’s in Brazil.
2. Is it snowing in the UK? b. Yes, I’m the managing director.
3. Do you work here? c. No, I’ve got a day off.
4. Are you working today? d. Just coke, usually.
5. Where do you live? e. It’s water.
6. Where are you living? f. In a friend’s flat in London.
7. What do you drink? g. Not right now.
8. What are you drinking? h. Only in winter.
Homework

1. Learn the topic vocabulary of the lesson

Session Vocabulary
smart
nice and stylish
casual
informal and comfortable
jumper
warm piece of clothing that you pull over your head and that covers your upper body and arms
scruffy
not neat or clean
trendy
modern, popular and fashionable
suit
smart jacket and trousers or skirt made from the same material
Session Vocabulary
  • hoodie / hoody – casual clothing for the top part of your body, usually made of cotton, with a hood to cover your head
  • jumper – warm clothing for the top part of your body, usually made of wool
  • trainers – comfortable sports shoes
  • smart casual – describes clothes that are a mix of smart and casual, for example, nice jeans and a shirt
  • graphic designer – someone who designs pictures and text for things like websites, magazines and posters
  • branding – giving a company a particular look, feel or design to help it sell its products or services

6 Minute Vocabulary

Adjectives

Adjectives are words that describe nouns.

  • scruffy
    not neat or clean
    Example: He's wearing a scruffy old t-shirt.
  • casual
    informal and comfortable
    Example: I like to wear casual clothes when I'm relaxing at home.
  • smart
    neat and stylish
    Example: Stuart looks very smart in his new shirt and tie.
  • formal
    serious, important clothes for special events, for example, weddings
    Example: You must wear a formal suit for the interview.
  • fashionable
    new and popular
    Example: Stripy trousers were fashionable a few years ago.

Adverbs

Adverbs are words that describe verbs.

  • scruffily
    He dressed scruffily in an old t-shirt.
  • casually
    I dress casually when I relax at home.
  • smartly
    Dave's smartly dressed today in a new shirt and tie.
  • formally
    Everyone will dress formally at the wedding.
  • fashionably
    Sarah was fashionably dressed in a blue coat.

3. Choose Present Continuous or Present Simple 1

Choose the present simple or the present continuous - it could be positive, negative or question.

  1.  (you/come) tonight?.
  2.  (he/eat) rice every day?.
  3.  (work) at the moment..
  4.  (he/come) to London often?.
  5. He  (play) tennis now..
  6.  (you/come) to the cinema later?.
  7. They  (not/come) to the party tomorrow..
  8. He  (not/play) golf now..
  9.  (you/play) tennis this Sunday?.
  10. They  (go) to a restaurant every Saturday..
  11. She  (not/go) to the cinema very often..
  12. You usually  (arrive) late..
  13. He normally  (eat) dinner at home..
  14.  (you/study) every night?.
  15.  (they/work) late usually?.
  16. You  (not/go) out later..
  17.  (not/work) tonight..
  18.  (she/work) at the moment?.
  19.  (not/drink) coffee very often..
  20. Julie  (sleep) now..