Put it all together

Now that you have seen the differences between expressing activities that are part of your daily life (present simple) and activities that you are doing in this moment (present continuous), let’s check your progress.

Multiple choice exercise

Read the following text.

activity
Hello! My name's Miranda and I'm an English teacher. I live in Mexico city and I teach English at the UNAM. I normally get up at half past five, take a shower and drive to school.
activity
My classes start at seven o'clock. I never have breakfast at home so I arrive at twenty to seven and I have a sandwich or a milkshake before I start my lessons.
activity
At one o'clock I finish classes and I go home.
activity
Then, I cook and wait for my husband to have dinner together.
activity
In this moment I’m trying to eat healthy food because I want to lose weight. I usually eat tortillas and drink soda, but this week I’m eating salads and drinking water. I sometimes have chocolate ice cream but these days I’m eating fruit instead.
activity
Today is Friday. I never work on Fridays but today I’m not staying at home because I’m taking a course in Coyoacán. In this course I’m learning how to use technology in a language classroom.
activity
After this course, I’m going home. I usually take this kind of courses with my best friend Edith but today she’s presenting a book in one of the campus of the UNAM. I love my job!
Multiple choice exercise

Now, identify if the following activities are Miranda’s daily routines or if they are activities she is doing right now.

1. She never has breakfast at home.

2. She’s trying to eat healthy food

3. She has a sandwich or a milkshake before she starts her lessons.

4. She’s taking a course in Coyoacán.

5. She finishes classes and I go home.

6. She never works on Fridays.

7. She’s learning how to use technology in a language classroom.

Writing exercise

Now look at the photos below. Imagine that the pictures on the left are the activities you usually do on Wednesdays and that the pictures on the right are the activities you are doing today because you are on vacation. Write these ideas below the pictures. Use the given words.

activity

usually / get up / 7.20

I usually get up at 7.20.

get up / 7.30 / today

I’m getting up at 7.30 today.

activity

normally / drive / car / to school

I normally drive my car to school.

Today / fly / to the beach

Today I’m flying to the beach.

activity

always / take classes / university

I always take classes at university

sunbathe / drink / soda / my friend / now

I’m sunbathing and drinking a soda with my friend now.

activity

usually / have dinner / friends / at school

I usually have dinner with my friends at school.

take / a trip / on a yatch/ my friend / in this moment

I’m taking a trip on a yacht with my friend at this moment.

activity

always / sleep / my bedroom

I always sleep in my bedroom.

sleep / hotel

I’m sleeping in a hotel.

Complete all the gaps to get feedback.
Self evaluation

Congratulations, you have finished! Now, it is time to test if you really learnt the contents of this material. Answer the following questions or statements and check the column that best suits your situation.

Self evaluation
I am an expert NOW in this topic!
Self evaluation
I think I need to practice a bit more.
Self evaluation
I am starting to believe I need to start over again.

I learnt useful words and expressions to talk about daily activities and activities happening now.

Congratulations!

You can do it! Try to check this section: Is it now or everyday?

You can do it! Try to check this section: Is it now or everyday?

I can easily tell the difference between actions happening now and daily activities or routines.

Well done!

You can do it! Try to check this section: Is it now or everyday? Daily activities vs ongoing activities

You can do it! Try to check this section: Is it now or everyday? Daily activities vs ongoing activities

I can identify effortlessly in a text or orally actions that are taking place at the moment and habits or routines.

Great job!

You can do it! Try to check this section: At the shopping center and Things you can’t live without

You can do it! Try to check this section: At the shopping center and Things you can’t live without

I can write or speak efficiently about actions happening now or daily activities and routines.

Excellent!

You can do it! Try to check this section: Are you doing your homework? and Day off

You can do it! Try to check this section: Are you doing your homework? and Day off