Useful Expressions
Level: Elementary Intermediate Advanced
Habits
There are some activities that are a regular part of our daily lives. We have a number of English phrases for talking about habits - both the good ones and the bad ones.
Ten Expressions to Use In Speaking And Writing
- I spend a lot of time...
- I (often) tend to...
- You'll always find me...
- ___ is a big part of my life.
- I always make a point of...
- Whenever I get the chance, I...
- I have a habit of..
- I can't (seem to) stop...
- I'm always...
- I can't help...
How To Use These Phrases In Your English
- Phrases 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 10 are followed by a gerund. (-ing form)
- Phrase 2 is followed by the infinitive of the main verb (e.g. I often tend to watch TV in the evenings.)
- Phrase 4 needs a noun or gerund in the blank space.
- Phrases 1 - 3 are quite neutral. The habit is neither a good one or bad one.
- Phrase 4 is a bit more positive and phrases 5 and 6 show that the speaker likes doing these things and tries to do them a lot.
- Phrase 7 suggests that the speaker often does something but that it's not intentional. It may be a bad habit.
- Phrases 8 to 10 are habits that the speaker thinks are bad but cannot stop.