English for Beginners: Time Expressions

Dialogue

Current Situation

Time expressions are super important in English! They help us talk about when things happen, whether it’s in the past, present, or future. Imagine trying to make plans with a friend or telling a story without mentioning “when”! It would be very confusing. By using phrases like “yesterday,” “now,” “tomorrow,” or “at 3 o’clock,” we can clearly communicate our schedules, memories, and future events. Mastering these expressions is key to understanding and being understood in everyday English conversations.

Key Phrases

• now: at this moment.
  Example: What are you doing now?
• an hour ago: one hour before the present moment.
  Example: I had breakfast an hour ago.
• 10 o’clock in the morning / 3 PM: specific times of the day.
  Example: The meeting is at 10 o’clock in the morning. / Let’s meet at 3 PM.
• this afternoon / this morning / this evening: during the afternoon/morning/evening of the current day.
  Example: I have a dentist appointment this afternoon.
• tomorrow (morning/afternoon/evening): the day after today.
  Example: We are going to the beach tomorrow morning.
• yesterday (morning/afternoon/evening): the day before today.
  Example: I saw a great movie yesterday evening.
• late: happening after the expected or usual time.
  Example: I got home very late last night.
• on time: at the scheduled or expected time; not late.
  Example: It’s important to arrive on time for your interview.
• on the dot: exactly at the specified time.
  Example: He arrived at 8 AM on the dot.
• in five minutes / in an hour / in two days: after this amount of time from now.
  Example: The show starts in five minutes.
• later: at a subsequent time; after now.
  Example: I’ll call you later.
• right now: immediately; at this very moment.
  Example: I need to leave right now.
• next time: the next occasion that something happens.
  Example: Please be careful next time.
• all day (yesterday/today): for the entire duration of the day.
  Example: She worked all day yesterday.
• around (3 PM / lunchtime): approximately at that time.
  Example: Let’s meet around 3 PM.
• last week / next week / last month / next month: the week/month before/after this one.
  Example: We went on holiday last week. / I have a test next week.

Grammar Points

1. Prepositions of Time: At, On, In

• At: Used for specific times, clock times, and holidays.
  Examples: at 7 o’clock, at noon, at night, at Christmas.
• On: Used for specific days and dates.
  Examples: on Monday, on July 4th, on my birthday.
• In: Used for months, seasons, years, longer periods, and parts of the day (except “at night”). Also used to indicate a future time (e.g., “in five minutes”).
  Examples: in July, in summer, in 2025, in the morning, in an hour.

2. Adverbs of Time

Words that tell us when something happens. They often go at the beginning or end of a sentence.

• now, immediately, right now (present)
• yesterday, last week/month/year, ago (past)
• tomorrow, next week/month/year, soon, later (future)
Examples: I’ll see you tomorrow. She arrived late. We just finished now.

3. Using ‘This’, ‘Last’, ‘Next’

These words help us refer to periods relative to the present.

• This: refers to the current period.
  Examples: this morning, this week, this year.
• Last: refers to the period immediately before the current one.
  Examples: last night, last month, last summer.
• Next: refers to the period immediately after the current one.
  Examples: next Tuesday, next weekend, next year.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks. Choose the best time expression for each sentence.

1. We are going to the park _________ morning. (tomorrow / yesterday)
2. She finished her homework five hours _________. (now / ago)
3. I have a meeting _________ 10 o’clock. (on / at)
4. They will visit us _________ July. (in / on)
5. Did you see that movie _________ night? (this / last)
6. Let’s meet _________ Friday. (on / in)
7. He is busy _________ afternoon. (this / last)
8. The train leaves _________ ten minutes. (in / on)
9. What are you doing _________? (ago / now)
10. I usually eat breakfast _________ the morning. (at / in)

Exercise 2: Match the Time Expression to its category (Past, Present, or Future).

Match them:

1. Yesterday: _________
2. Last week: _________
3. Next year: _________
4. Now: _________
5. Tomorrow: _________

Exercise 3: Create your own sentence using these time expressions.

1. “this morning”
   (Your sentence here)
2. “in an hour”
   (Your sentence here)
3. “on time”
   (Your sentence here)

English Learning: Daily Routines with Alice & Bob

Join Alice and Bob as they chat about their very different daily routines. One is an early bird, the other… not so much!

Dialogue

Current Situation

This dialogue shows how two friends, Alice and Bob, describe their “daily routines.” Daily routines are the things we do every day, often at the same time. Learning to talk about your routine is very important for everyday English conversations. Alice has an early and active routine, while Bob has a more relaxed and late routine. They use simple English to discuss when they wake up, eat meals, and go to sleep.

Key Phrases

• wake up: To stop sleeping and become conscious.

  I wake up at 7 AM every day.

• go to sleep: To start sleeping.

  I usually go to sleep around 10 PM.

• eat breakfast/lunch/dinner: To have your morning, midday, or evening meal.

  We eat dinner together at 7 PM.

• early: Happening or done before the usual or expected time.

  Alice wakes up early, at 6 AM.

• late: Happening or done after the usual or expected time.

  Bob goes to sleep late, sometimes at midnight.

• every day: Daily, each day.

  She does yoga every day.

• usually: Under normal conditions; most of the time.

  I usually drink coffee in the morning.

• sometimes: On some occasions but not always or often.

  Sometimes I read a book before bed.

• comfy: (Informal) Comfortable.

  Bob’s bed is very comfy.

• take a nap: To sleep for a short period, especially during the day.

  Bob likes to take a nap after breakfast.

Grammar Points

• 1. Simple Present Tense for Routines

  We use the Simple Present tense to talk about habits, routines, and things that happen regularly.

  • I / You / We / They + verb (base form)

    I wake up at 6 AM.

    We eat lunch together.

  • He / She / It + verb + -s / -es (Remember the ‘s’ for third person singular!)

    He wakes up at 9 AM.

    She eats a healthy breakfast.

• 2. Time Expressions

  Use these words to talk about when things happen:

  • at + specific time: at 6 AM, at 7 PM
  • around + approximate time: around 9 AM, around 11 PM
  • in the + part of day: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening
  • before/after + event/time: after breakfast, before bed
  • every day: I go to work every day.

• 3. Adverbs of Frequency (usually, sometimes)

  These words tell us how often something happens. They usually go before the main verb.

  • usually: I usually wake up around 9 AM. (most of the time)
  • sometimes: I sometimes read a book until midnight. (not always, not often)

• 4. Asking Questions about Routines

  • When do you…? / When does he/she…?

    When do you wake up?

    When does she eat dinner?

  • What do you…? / What does he/she…?

    What do you do after breakfast?

    What does he eat for lunch?

Practice Exercises

English Learning for Beginners: Weather Words

Dialogue

Current Situation

Talking about the weather is one of the most common topics in English conversations. Whether you’re meeting someone new, making small talk with a neighbor, or planning your day, discussing the weather is a natural part of daily life. Knowing basic weather words allows you to express your observations, understand forecasts, and plan activities effectively. From sunny days perfect for a walk to rainy afternoons best spent indoors, understanding weather vocabulary helps you connect with others and navigate your environment.

Key Phrases

• What’s the weather like?: A common question to ask about the current weather.
  What’s the weather like in your city today?
• How’s the weather?: Another way to ask about the weather.
  How’s the weather where you are? Is it raining?
• It’s sunny: The sun is shining brightly.
  It’s sunny, perfect for the beach!
• It’s raining: Water is falling from the sky.
  Don’t forget your umbrella, it’s raining outside.
• It’s snowing: Snow is falling.
  Look! It’s snowing, everything is white.
• It’s windy: The wind is blowing strongly.
  It’s very windy, hold onto your hat!
• It’s foggy: There is thick mist, making it hard to see.
  Be careful driving, it’s foggy this morning.
• It’s hot / It’s cold: Refers to the temperature being high or low.
  It’s so hot, I need an ice cream! / It’s cold, wear a warm jacket.
• Partly cloudy: The sky has both clouds and sunshine.
  It’s partly cloudy, so we might see the sun later.
• Chance of rain: There is a possibility that it will rain.
  The forecast says there’s a chance of rain this afternoon.
• Thunderstorms: A storm with thunder and lightning.
  We heard the news, there will be thunderstorms tonight.

Grammar Points

1. Using “It’s” for Weather

We often use “It’s” (short for “It is”) to talk about the weather. We combine “It is” with an adjective or a verb ending in -ing.

• It’s + adjective: For example, “It’s sunny,” “It’s cold,” “It’s hot,” “It’s windy.”
  It’s hot today, let’s go swimming.
• It’s + verb-ing: For example, “It’s raining,” “It’s snowing,” “It’s hailing.”
  It’s raining, so I need an umbrella.

2. Asking About the Weather

To ask about the weather, we commonly use these two phrases:

• “What’s the weather like?”: This asks for a description of the weather.
  “What’s the weather like in London?” “It’s cloudy and cool.”
• “How’s the weather?”: This is a shorter, more casual way to ask the same thing.
  “How’s the weather?” “It’s beautiful, a perfect sunny day!”

3. Talking About Future Weather (Forecast)

When we talk about what the weather will be like in the future, we often use “The forecast says…” or “It’s going to be…”

• The forecast says…: Used to report information from a weather prediction.
  The forecast says it will be sunny tomorrow.
• It’s going to be…: Used to express a future prediction or plan.
  It’s going to be cold this evening.
• There’s a chance of…: Used when there’s a possibility of a certain weather condition.
  There’s a chance of snow later this week.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the best weather word from the dialogue or key phrases.

1. When the sky is blue and bright, it’s __________.
2. If water is falling from the sky, it’s __________.
3. When the air moves strongly and makes things blow around, it’s __________.
4. When you can’t see far because of thick mist, it’s __________.
5. If the temperature is very high, you might say it’s __________.

Scroll down for answers!

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Word

Select the correct weather word to complete each sentence.

1. The forecast says it will be (snowing / hot) tomorrow, so bring your winter coat.
2. Let’s play outside! It’s (raining / sunny) today.
3. I heard thunder, so there might be (thunderstorms / foggy) later.

Scroll down for answers!

Exercise 3: Answer the Questions

Answer these questions about weather in your own words.

1. What kind of weather do you like best?
2. What do you usually wear when it’s cold?

Answers

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. When the sky is blue and bright, it’s sunny.
2. If water is falling from the sky, it’s raining.
3. When the air moves strongly and makes things blow around, it’s windy.
4. When you can’t see far because of thick mist, it’s foggy.
5. If the temperature is very high, you might say it’s hot.

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Word

1. The forecast says it will be snowing tomorrow, so bring your winter coat.
2. Let’s play outside! It’s sunny today.
3. I heard thunder, so there might be thunderstorms later.

Exercise 3: Answer the Questions

(Answers will vary, here are some examples)

1. I like sunny and warm weather best.
2. When it’s cold, I usually wear a warm jacket, a hat, and gloves.

English Learning for Beginners: Occupations

Dialogue

Current Situation

Talking about occupations is a very common and natural way to get to know someone new or to catch up with friends, as Alice and Bob do in the dialogue. It helps you understand what people spend their time doing, what their interests might be, and sometimes even their personality!

In English, you can ask about someone’s job using phrases like “What do you do?” or “What’s your job?”. When answering, you usually say “I’m a [job title].” People often find humor in the everyday details of their jobs, or imagine more exciting versions, just like Alice’s funny idea about Lily being a secret agent librarian!

Key Phrases

• What do you do?: A common way to ask about someone’s job or profession.

  Example: “Hi! My name is Mark. What do you do?”

• I’m a [occupation].: Used to state your job or profession.

  Example: “I’m a teacher. I teach English.”

• That’s cool!: An informal way to express that you find something interesting or impressive.

  Example: “You’re a pilot? That’s cool!”

• Sounds like a [description] job!: Used to describe how a job appears or feels to you.

  Example: “You work with animals? Sounds like a fun job!”

• What kind of [occupation] are you?: Used to ask for more specific details about someone’s profession.

  Example: “You’re a doctor? What kind of doctor are you?”

• Long time no see!: A friendly greeting used when you haven’t seen someone for a while.

  Example: “Wow, Sarah! Long time no see! How are you?”

• It was great catching up!: A polite way to end a conversation, indicating you enjoyed talking.

  Example: “I have to go now, but it was great catching up!”

Grammar Points

Practice Exercises

English for Beginners: Countries & Nationalities

Dialogue

Current Situation

Understanding countries and nationalities is a fundamental part of English for beginners. It helps you introduce yourself, ask about others, and understand where people come from. When you travel or meet people from different parts of the world, knowing these terms allows you to connect and communicate effectively. It’s a great way to start learning about the diverse world around us!

Key Phrases

• Where are you from?
  (Example: Where are you from, Maria?)
• I am from [country].
  (Example: I am from Spain.)
• I am [nationality].
  (Example: I am Spanish.)
• He/She is from [country].
  (Example: She is from Japan.)
• He/She is [nationality].
  (Example: He is Japanese.)
• What country is that?
  (Example: I saw a flag. What country is that?)
• Is he/she [nationality]?
  (Example: Is he French? Yes, he is!)

Grammar Points

• The Verb “To Be” (am, is, are):
  We use the verb “to be” to talk about where someone is from or what their nationality is.
  • I am from Brazil. / I am Brazilian.
  • You are from Mexico. / You are Mexican.
  • He is from China. / He is Chinese.
  • She is from Korea. / She is Korean.
  • We are from the USA. / We are American.
  • They are from Germany. / They are German.
• Preposition “from”:
  We use “from” directly before the name of a country to indicate origin.
  (Example: I am from France. NOT “I am from French.”)
• Capitalization:
  Both countries and nationalities are proper nouns, so they always start with a capital letter.
  (Example: He is From Italy. He is Italian.)
• Country vs. Nationality:
  Remember, a country is a place (e.g., Canada), and a nationality describes someone from that place (e.g., Canadian).
  (Example: “She is from Spain. She is Spanish.”)

Practice Exercises

English Learning for Beginners: Wh- Questions (What, Where, When)

Dialogue

Current Situation

In English, when you want to ask for specific information, you use “Wh- questions.” These questions don’t usually have a simple “yes” or “no” answer. They help you get details about things, places, or times. Today, we are focusing on three very common ones: What, Where, and When. Mastering these will help you ask for and understand a lot more in everyday conversations!

Key Phrases

• What’s that?

  Meaning: Asking about an unknown object or thing.

  Example: “What’s that sound? Is it raining?”

• What hobby?

  Meaning: Asking for details about a specific hobby.

  Example: “You have a new hobby? What hobby is it?”

• Where do you even do that?

  Meaning: Asking about the location of an activity, sometimes with a hint of surprise.

  Example: “You learned to fly a kite? Where do you even do that in the city?”

• When does it meet?

  Meaning: Asking about the scheduled time for an event or group gathering.

  Example: “The book club sounds fun! When does it meet?”

• What do you win?

  Meaning: Asking about the prize or reward for an activity or competition.

  Example: “If I finish this race, what do I win?”

Grammar Points: Wh- Questions (What, Where, When)

Wh- questions are essential for getting specific information. Let’s look at their use and structure:

1. What (for things, actions, or information)

We use “What” to ask about objects, activities, or general information.

• Basic Structure (with ‘be’ verb): What + is/are + subject?
  • What is your favorite color? (Answer: My favorite color is blue.)
  • What are those? (Answer: Those are my new shoes.)
• Basic Structure (with other verbs, using ‘do/does’): What + do/does + subject + base verb?
  • What do you do? (Answer: I am a student.)
  • What does she like? (Answer: She likes chocolate.)

2. Where (for places or locations)

We use “Where” to ask about the position or location of something or someone.

• Basic Structure (with ‘be’ verb): Where + is/are + subject?
  • Where is the park? (Answer: The park is near my house.)
  • Where are my keys? (Answer: Your keys are on the table.)
• Basic Structure (with other verbs, using ‘do/does’): Where + do/does + subject + base verb?
  • Where do you live? (Answer: I live in Paris.)
  • Where does he work? (Answer: He works at a hospital.)

3. When (for time)

We use “When” to ask about the time, date, or moment of an event.

• Basic Structure (with ‘be’ verb): When + is/are + subject?
  • When is your birthday? (Answer: My birthday is in May.)
  • When is the meeting? (Answer: The meeting is tomorrow morning.)
• Basic Structure (with other verbs, using ‘do/does’): When + do/does + subject + base verb?
  • When do you usually wake up? (Answer: I usually wake up at 7 AM.)
  • When does the store open? (Answer: The store opens at 9 AM.)

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with “What”, “Where”, or “When”.

1. ____ is your favorite food?
2. ____ do you go to school?
3. ____ is Christmas Day?
4. ____ does she usually eat for breakfast?
5. ____ does the bus stop?
6. ____ is your English class?

Exercise 2: Match the question to the correct answer.

1. What is your name?
2. Where are you from?
3. When do you go to bed?

1. I usually go to bed at 10 PM.
2. My name is Maria.
3. I am from Spain.

Match the letters (a, b, c) with the numbers (1, 2, 3) below.

Exercise 3: Look at the answer and write a Wh- question (What, Where, or When).

Example: Answer: She eats toast for breakfast. -> Question: What does she eat for breakfast?

1. Answer: The party is on Saturday.
   Question: _________________________
2. Answer: My dog’s name is Max.
   Question: _________________________
3. Answer: They live in a big house.
   Question: _________________________
4. Answer: I eat toast for breakfast.
   Question: _________________________