Unit 2.A: Present and past habits, repeated actions and states
2.A.1) PRESENT HABITS, REPEATED ACTIONS AND STATES
- We use the Present Simple to talk about:
o present habits: She usually walks to work.
o repeated actions: I visit my granny every day.
o states: I know what I like and I eat what I like.
- We often use the Present Continuous with always to talk about:
o present habits and repeated actions that annoy us or happen more than
usual:
My mom's always telling me what I should and shouldn't eat.
People are always asking me why I dress strangely
- We can use will + infinitive to talk about:
o repeated and typical behaviour in the present:
Every day when I get home from work, I'll have a coffee.
When nobody’s looking, she’ll go into the kitchen and steal
biscuits.
(We don't usually use this verb form with state verbs for this meaning).
o To show criticism, we stress the uncontracted form of will: He will
leave the door open all the time!
2.A.2) PAST HABITS, REPEATED ACTIONS AND STATES
- We use the Past Simple and used to + infinitive to talk about:
- past habits: I always had dinner by the sea.
- repeated actions: We used to play tennis after school.
- states: I always knew what to do in those cases.
o I didn't use to like vegetables.
o My brother never used to help with the washing-up.
o Where did you use to live?
- We can use would + infinitive to talk about:
- past habits and repeated actions: But when I was a teenager I'd get up in
the morning and go straight to the cookie jar.
(We don't usually use this verb form with state verbs).
