Around the Clock: Routines and Facts

In this subchapter, we'll explore the simple present tense to talk about things that are true every day, like your daily habits and universal facts. Whether it's brushing your teeth or the sun rising in the east, you'll learn how to describe routines and things that happen regularly. By the end, you'll be able to talk about your daily activities and share general truths confidently!

Mission 1. What's the Truth?

Complete the sentences below with the correct general truth. You can refer to the examples and the correct use of the simple present tense. The sun rises in the east. The moon ______ the Earth. Water ______ at 100°C. Ice ______ when it gets warm. Plants ______ sunlight to grow. Fish ______ in water. Birds ______ in the sky. Seasons ______ every few months. Snow ______ in winter in cold countries. Bees ______ honey. Children _____ new things at school.

Mission 2. Routine Q&A

Create a list of questions related to daily routines, Then, ask your family members or friends these questions and record their answers. Write a short report about their routines, including time expressions.

Question	Family member	Answer

Mission 3. Report Your Interview

Review the answers you recorded in the previous interview activity. Write a report summarizing your partner's daily routine using the simple present tense. Anna's Daily Routine: Anna wakes up at 7 AM every day. She usually has breakfast at 7:00 AM. After that, she goes to work by bus. She works from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. In the evening, she likes to relax and read a book. She usually goes to bed at 10:00 PM. Your Report: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Form of Simple Present Tense

Sentence Type	Subject	Verb Form	Example

Mission 4. Daily Routine Time Chart

Create a daily routine schedule from the time you wake up until you go to bed, using the simple present tense. Include activities such as waking up, eating meals, studying, and any other regular activities you do throughout the day. After completing the schedule, write a short paragraph summarizing your routine based on the schedule, making sure to describe each activity and its time clearly. My Schedule "Every day, I wake up at 6:30 AM. I have breakfast at 7:00 AM, then I go to school at 8:00 AM. I usually have lunch at 12:00 PM, and after school, I study for an hour. In the evening, I watch TV, and I go to bed at 10:00 PM."

Time	Activity

Mission 5. Maria's Busy Day: True or False?

Read the text below carefully. Then, read the statements that follow. Decide if each statement is true or false based on the information in the text. If the statement is false, explain why. Maria's day begins early. She wakes up at 6 AM every day, and the first thing she does is stretch her arms and take a deep breath. After brushing her teeth, she enjoys a healthy breakfast, usually consisting of fruit and a cup of tea, at around 6:30 AM. By 7 AM, Maria is ready to leave for school. She walks to the bus stop, which is just five minutes from her house, and catches the bus at 7:15 AM. Her school starts at 8 AM, and she enjoys the first hour because it's when she learns the most. During lunch, she likes to chat with her friends and eat a sandwich she prepared at home. After school, she often stays for an hour to finish her homework at the school library. At 4 PM, Maria heads to the park where she meets her friends to play basketball. She loves playing sports because it helps her relax after a long day of studying. At 7 PM, she returns home, enjoys dinner with her family, and spends some time with her little brother. In the evening, she usually reads a book or watches a documentary. Maria goes to bed at 10 PM, but before sleeping, she takes a few minutes to meditate and reflect on her day.

Statement	True	False

Mission 6. True or False Daily Routines

Read the following statements about daily routines. Some of them are true, and some are false. For each statement, decide if it's true or false. After making your decision, explain why the statement is true or false in complete sentences.

Statement	True/false

Mission 7. "A Day in My Life"

Write a short paragraph about your daily routine using the simple present tense. Include the time you wake up and describe what you do in the morning, afternoon, and evening. After writing, review your paragraph to ensure correct use of the simple present tense and time expressions. Share your paragraph with a partner or family member, explaining your routine. "I wake up at 6 AM every day. After waking up, I brush my teeth and have breakfast at 7 AM. I go to school at 8 AM and finish at 3 PM. In the afternoon, I study for an hour, and then I play basketball with my friends. In the evening, I have dinner at 7 PM, watch TV for an hour, and go to bed at 10 PM."

Mission 8. Mastering Time

Read the dialogue between Liam and Emma about time management. After reading the conversation, decide if each statement about their discussion is true or false. If the statement is false, explain why it is incorrect based on the dialogue. Liam: Hey, Emma! I've noticed you've been really busy lately, but you always seem stressed. How are you managing everything? Emma: I'm trying to get everything done, but I feel like I never have enough time. I always start my tasks, but then something distracts me, and I end up rushing through them. Liam: I totally get it. That used to happen to me all the time. But I found that time management really helps. Have you ever tried planning your day ahead of time? Emma: I've heard of it, but I'm not sure it'll work for me. My schedule is always changing! Liam: It's worth giving a shot. I make a to-do list every morning, and I prioritize my tasks. I focus on the most important ones first, and I give myself breaks in between. It's been a game-changer! Emma: Hmm, that sounds useful. What if something unexpected comes up? I feel like I'll never be able to keep up with my schedule. Liam: That's the best part! I always build in some flexibility. I leave time for surprises, and if something comes up, I adjust my plan. It's not about being rigid, but having a structure to keep you on track. Emma: Wow, I didn't think of it that way. I might try it out tomorrow. I like the idea of having time to relax in between tasks. Liam: Trust me, you'll feel less stressed once you start. Time management isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about making the best use of your time and balancing your day. Emma: Thanks for the advice, Liam. I'll definitely give it a try! Statement check

Statement	True/false

Mission 9. Talking about My Daily Activity

Work individually or in pairs. Pretend you are a morning radio host. Describe your daily routine to the "audience" in detail, using time expressions. Speaking clearly using the simple present tense. Using time expressions to organize your day logically. Example: Host: "Good morning, and welcome to 'Morning Talk!' Today, we have Emma with us. Hi, Emma! Can you tell us, what time do you wake up every day?" Emma (Guest): "Hi! I wake up at 6:30 AM every day. I usually get up and stretch for a few minutes before I start my day." Host: "Sounds like a great way to start the day! What do you usually do after you wake up?" Emma: "After I wake up, I brush my teeth and have breakfast. I usually have toast and coffee." Host: "Nice! Do you have any special routines in the afternoon?" Emma: "Yes, I go to the gym every afternoon around 4 PM. I exercise for about an hour, then I go home and relax for a bit." Host: "That sounds like a balanced routine. What about your evenings? What do you do before bed?" Emma: "In the evening, I like to watch TV or read a book. I usually go to bed at 10 PM so I can get enough rest for the next day." Host: "Thank you for sharing, Emma! Sounds like you have a very productive and healthy daily routine!" Emma: "Thank you for having me! It was great talking about my routine."

Mission 10. Sentence Scramble

Below, you will find several scrambled sentences about daily routines. Your task is to rearrange the words in each sentence to form a correct statement. After unscrambling the sentences, write your own sentences about your daily routine using the same sentence structure. "at / I / go / 8 AM / to / school" ……………………………………… "breakfast / have / I / at / 7:30 AM" ……………………………………… "study / in / I / the / evening / hour / an / for" ……………………………………… "go / to / I / the / park / weekends / on / the" ……………………………………… "watch / I / TV / before / bed / at / 9 PM" ……………………………………… "always / I / brush / my / teeth / morning / the / in" ……………………………………… "run / I / in / the / every / morning" ……………………………………… "have / I / dinner / at / 7:30 PM" ………………………………………

Mission 11. Share Your Daily Routine

Pair up with a partner and take turns asking and answering questions about each other's daily routines, making sure to include adverbs of frequency in your answers. Questions to ask: 1. What time do you wake up every day? I usually wake up at 6:30 AM 2. Do you exercise in the morning? 3. What time do you go to school/work? 4. Do you have breakfast every day? 5. What do you do in the afternoon after school/work? 6. What time do you go to bed at night? 7. Do you usually watch TV in the evening?

Mission 12. Share Your Daily Routine

Pair up with a classmate and engage in a back-and-forth conversation about your daily routines using the simple present tense. Start by asking your partner questions such as "What time do you wake up? After each answer, ask follow-up questions like "Why do you wake up so early?" or "What do you do in the evening?" to keep the conversation flowing. Once you've finished, switch roles and answer your partner's questions, making sure to ask follow-up questions as well. Liam: "What time do you wake up every day?" Emma: "………………………………….." Liam: "Why do you wake up so early?" Emma: "I wake up early because I like to have some quiet time before I start my day."

Mission 13. The Frequency Challenge

Fill in the chart below by writing how often you do each activity using adverbs of frequency (e.g., always, usually, sometimes, rarely, never). Once you've completed your chart, share it with a partner. Take turns asking each other questions about your routines, like "Do you always wake up at 6 AM?" or "Do you usually eat breakfast?".

Activity	Frequency

Mission 14. My Activities in a Day

Create a timeline of your perfect day from morning to evening. Draw a line and divide it into time slots. Write down the activities you would do at each time. After completing your timeline, write a short paragraph summarizing your perfect day and explain the frequency of your activities.

Time	Activity	Frequency

Example of paragraph: Every day, I always wake up at 7:00 AM. I usually eat breakfast at 8:00 AM and sometimes go for a walk in the morning. At 12:00 PM, I always have lunch, and in the afternoon, I often read a book. In the evening, I rarely watch TV, as I prefer to do other activities. I always go to bed at 9:00 PM to get enough sleep for the next day.