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⏰ B1 Grammar Guide

Habits and repeated actions

Learn how to talk about bad habits, repeating actions, general tendencies, and uncontrollable reactions in plain English.

💡 How to use this lesson

For Teachers:

Use this 12-minute lesson to present and clarify B1 habit structures. Check answers together after students complete each section.

For Learners:

First, read the 4 rules carefully and look at the underlined words. Next, complete the 12 practice tasks to test your understanding.

📌 Grammar Rules & Patterns

Pattern 1 is / are always + -ing

Use this pattern when a habit annoys you or surprises you. The continuous form turns a simple habit into a complaint. For a calm fact, just use the simple present sentence instead.

• "My brother is always borrowing my headphones without asking."

• "My stubborn roommate is always making an excuse for his mess."

Pattern 2 keep + -ing

Use this pattern when someone does the same action again and again. Always put -ing after keep and never use "to".

• "My neighbour keeps playing loud music late at night."

• "I keep checking my phone whenever I get a strong urge."

Pattern 3 tend to + plain verb

Use this pattern to talk about what usually happens in a calm way without complaining. Remember to use tends for he, she, or it, and never add -ing after "to".

• "People tend to eat more snacks when they watch a film."

• "He tends to lose his willpower when he feels tired."

Pattern 4 can't help + -ing

Use this pattern when you cannot stop yourself from doing something, even if you try. The verb after help is always -ing and never to.

• "She can't help laughing whenever her dad tells that old joke."

• "I can't help feeling addicted to social media feeds."

🟢

Calm Fact (Present Simple)

States what happens normally without emotional complaint.

"He always loses his keys."

🔴

Annoyed Complaint (is/are always + -ing)

Expresses frustration or annoyance at a repeated habit.

"He is always losing his keys!"

✍️ Practice Exercises (12 Questions)

Read each context carefully to select or write the exact matching habit pattern.

Question 1 • Choose (annoying habit)

Which sentence correctly expresses annoyance about someone pressing the alarm button repeatedly?

____ a. My stubborn brother is always hitting the snooze button! ____ b. My stubborn brother keeps to hit the snooze button! ____ c. My stubborn brother tends to hitting the snooze button!

Question 2 • Choose (calm statement)

Which sentence states a calm, general fact about people's behaviour under stress?

____ a. Stressed people are always eating snacks late at night. ____ b. Stressed people tend to eat snacks when they feel anxious. ____ c. Stressed people keep to eat snacks when they feel anxious.

Question 3 • Choose (repeated action)

Which sentence describes doing an action again and again?

____ a. I keep checking my phone whenever I feel a strong urge. ____ b. I tend to checking my phone whenever I feel a strong urge. ____ c. I can't help to check my phone whenever I feel a strong urge.

Question 4 • Rewrite keep + -ing

Original: "My stubborn roommate makes an excuse for his mess again and again."

Complete the rewritten sentence:

My stubborn roommate ____ for his mess.

Question 5 • Rewrite can't help

Original: "I cannot stop myself from buying sweet snacks when I try to quit sugar."

Complete the rewritten sentence:

I ____ sweet snacks when I try to quit sugar.

Question 6 • Rewrite tend to

Original: "He usually loses his willpower when he feels tired."

Complete the rewritten sentence:

He ____ his willpower when he feels tired.

Question 7 • Fill Blank (annoying)

Fill in the correct verb form based on the clue:

She ____ her classmates during study time.

Question 8 • Fill Blank (calm fact)

Fill in the correct verb form based on the clue:

When people try to quit a habit, they ____ a strong urge at first.

Question 9 • Fill Blank (cannot stop)

Fill in the correct verb form based on the clue:

Even though I want to resist, I ____ at his ridiculous excuses.

Question 10 • Error Correction Chat Message 💬

Alex • 8:15 AM

"Hey! My roommate keeps to snooze his alarm five times every morning! It drive me crazy!"

Type the corrected phrase for the underlined error:

____ (Write correct phrase...)

Question 11 • Error Correction Chat Message 💬

Sam • 2:40 PM

"I try to focus on my project, but I tend to getting distracted by phone notifications."

Type the corrected phrase for the underlined error:

____ (Write correct phrase...)

Question 12 • Error Correction Chat Message 💬

Maya • 6:05 PM

"Tom is so stubborn! He can't help to make excuses whenever he breaks a habit."

Type the corrected phrase for the underlined error:

____ (Write correct phrase...)

Habits and Repeated Actions: Bad Habits

Habits and repeated actions

💡 How to use this lesson

📌 Grammar Rules & Patterns

Calm Fact (Present Simple)

Annoyed Complaint (is/are always + -ing)

✍️ Practice Exercises (12 Questions)

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