Lesson
Talk about daily life
Text
Expressions and phrases used to describe regular actions, daily routines, and habitual behavior in personal and professional contexts.
Table
| Expression | Use / Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| usually | present habit / high frequency | I usually check my calendar first thing every morning. |
| on a daily basis | formal phrase for daily routine | We review sales reports on a daily basis. |
| once in a while | occasional action | I work from a coffee shop once in a while. |
| used to | past habit (no longer true) | She used to travel to clients every month. |
| be/get used to | be accustomed to / become accustomed to | He is used to working late during deadlines. |
| stick to a routine | maintain the same routine | To stay productive, she sticks to a morning routine. |
| creature of habit | someone who prefers routine | He's a creature of habit: same lunch, same route. |
Tip
How to choose the right expression and tone:
Match the expression to time (present vs past) and register (formal vs informal).
Example
I usually check my calendar first thing in the morning.
We have a brief team meeting on a daily basis to align priorities.
When I worked in sales, I used to visit clients every month.
She is used to handling multiple projects at once.
Tip
Typical errors learners make when describing habits and routines:
Check verb form, adverb position, and whether you mean present or past habit.
Quiz
Choose the sentence that correctly describes a past habit:
Hint: Think about which form indicates a past, repeated action
Correct!
Use 'used to' to talk about habits in the past that no longer happen.
Incorrect
The correct answer was: I used to take the bus to work.
Use 'used to' to talk about habits in the past that no longer happen.
Quiz
Complete: He _____ coffee every morning before the meeting.
Hint: Use the present simple for habitual actions
Correct!
'Has' (present simple) is used to describe his regular routine of drinking coffee in the morning.
Incorrect
The correct answer was: has
'Has' (present simple) is used to describe his regular routine of drinking coffee in the morning.
Quiz
Which phrase is most appropriate for a formal report about routine tasks?
Hint: Consider register: formal vs informal
Correct!
The phrase 'on a daily basis' is formal and suitable for reports; 'every now and then' is informal and occasional.
Incorrect
The correct answer was: We perform these checks on a daily basis.
The phrase 'on a daily basis' is formal and suitable for reports; 'every now and then' is informal and occasional.
Expression
Indicates a past habit or state that no longer occurs.
I used to travel every month for work.
GrammarPoint
Indicates being accustomed to something (state), followed by a noun or -ing form.
She is used to working late during deadlines.
Expression
A formal phrase meaning 'every day' or 'daily'.
We update the dashboard on a daily basis.
Expression
An informal phrase for doing something occasionally.
I go to networking events once in a while.
Expression
To follow the same routine consistently.
To increase productivity, she sticks to a routine every morning.
Expression
An idiom meaning a person who prefers predictable patterns and routines.
He's a creature of habit: he always orders the same lunch.