A2 — Lesson 03

Personality & Future Timetables

Personality Adjectives · Present Simple · Future Use · Time Clauses · Tense Practice
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Vocabulary: Personality & Character

British English vocabulary — words to describe people's personalities. Listen and repeat each word.

Positive Traits — Положителни черти

Kind/kaɪnd/Добросърдечен / Мил
Generous/ˈdʒen.ər.əs/Щедър
Honest/ˈɒn.ɪst/Честен
Reliable/rɪˈlaɪ.ə.bəl/Надежден
Confident/ˈkɒn.fɪ.dənt/Уверен в себе си
Ambitious/æmˈbɪʃ.əs/Амбициозен
Patient/ˈpeɪ.ʃənt/Търпелив
Brave/breɪv/Смел / Храбър
Cheerful/ˈtʃɪə.fəl/Весел / Жизнерадостен
Sensible/ˈsen.sɪ.bəl/Разумен / Благоразумен
Sociable/ˈsəʊ.ʃə.bəl/Общителен
Hardworking/ˈhɑːdˌwɜː.kɪŋ/Трудолюбив

Negative Traits — Отрицателни черти

Lazy/ˈleɪ.zi/Мързелив
Selfish/ˈsel.fɪʃ/Егоистичен
Rude/ruːd/Груб / Невъзпитан
Stubborn/ˈstʌb.ən/Упорит / Инат
Jealous/ˈdʒel.əs/Ревнив / Завистлив
Impatient/ɪmˈpeɪ.ʃənt/Нетърпелив
Arrogant/ˈær.ə.ɡənt/Арогантен / Надменен
Moody/ˈmuː.di/Капризен / С промени в настроението

Mixed / Context-Dependent — Зависи от контекста

Shy/ʃaɪ/Срамежлив
Quiet/ˈkwaɪ.ət/Тих / Мълчалив
Serious/ˈsɪə.ri.əs/Сериозен
Sensitive/ˈsen.sɪ.tɪv/Чувствителен
Competitive/kəmˈpet.ɪ.tɪv/Конкурентен / Готов да се бори

Useful Phrases — Полезни изрази

Get on well with/ɡet ɒn wel wɪð/Разбирам се добре с
Have a lot in common/hæv ə lɒt ɪn ˈkɒm.ən/Имаме много общо
Look up to someone/lʊk ʌp tuː/Възхищавам се на някого
Let someone down/let ˈsʌm.wʌn daʊn/Разочаровам някого

Opposites & Prefix Forms — Антоними и представки

These words appear in the Grammar Lab opposites section. Learn them here first.
Polite/pəˈlaɪt/Учтив / Вежлив
Impolite/ˌɪm.pəˈlaɪt/Невежлив / Невъзпитан
Dishonest/dɪsˈɒn.ɪst/Нечестен
Unreliable/ˌʌn.rɪˈlaɪ.ə.bəl/Ненадежден
Unsociable/ʌnˈsəʊ.ʃə.bəl/Необщителен
Foolish/ˈfuː.lɪʃ/Глупав / Несериозен
Miserable/ˈmɪz.ər.ə.bəl/Нещастен / Потиснат
📝 Exercise A: Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
1. He never says thank you and interrupts people when they speak. He is very ___.
2. She says one thing but does another. I think she is ___.
3. He looks so sad and unhappy — he has been ___ all week.
4. She always cancels plans at the last minute. She is completely ___.
5. It was ___ of him to spend all his money in one day.
🎯 Exercise B: Fill in the correct word from this lesson's new vocabulary.
1. He uses "please" and "thank you" and always listens carefully. He is very ___.
2. She hates going to parties or meeting new people. She is quite ___.
3. He lied to his friends about where he was. That was very ___ of him.
4. She started crying because she dropped her ice cream. She looked completely ___.
5. He promised to help me move house, but he didn't come. He is so ___.

Grammar Lab: Present Simple — Structure & Future Use

Focus: Learn how to form the Present Simple correctly, then see how we use it for habits, facts, and fixed future timetables.

1. Present Simple: Form

We use the Present Simple with the base form of the verb. For he / she / it, we add -s or -es to the verb. Study the three forms carefully.

Affirmative (+)

  • I / You / We / They work.
  • He / She / It works.
  • She studies every day.
  • He goes to school.

Negative (−)

  • I / You / We / They do not work. (don't)
  • He / She / It does not work. (doesn't)
  • She doesn't study on Sundays.
  • They don't play football.

Question (?)

  • Do I / you / we / they work?
  • Does he / she / it work?
  • Does she study every day?
  • Do they like coffee?
Short Answer (Yes)Short Answer (No)
Yes, I / you / we / they do.No, I / you / we / they don't.
Yes, he / she / it does.No, he / she / it doesn't.

⚙️ Spelling Rules for He / She / It:

RuleActionExamples
Most verbsAdd -swork → works / play → plays / like → likes
Verb ends in -s, -sh, -ch, -xAdd -eswatch → watches / fix → fixes / wash → washes
Verb ends in -oAdd -esgo → goes / do → does
Verb ends in consonant + yChange y → iesstudy → studies / carry → carries / fly → flies
Verb ends in vowel + yAdd -splay → plays / enjoy → enjoys / say → says
Irregular (learn separately)Special formhave → has  |  be → is

📌 When do we use Present Simple?

UseSignal WordsExample
Habits & routinesevery day / usually / always / never / often"She goes to the gym every morning."
Facts & general truths(no signal — just true)"Water boils at 100°C."
Permanent situationsgenerally / normally"He works at a hospital."
Fixed future timetablesat + time / the train / the flight"The train leaves at 9:15."
Time clauses (future)when / after / before / as soon as / once / until"When she arrives, we eat."
📝 Easy: Choose the correct Present Simple form.
1. She ___ (study) English every evening.
2. He ___ (not / like) coffee — he prefers tea.
3. ___ (they / play) football at the weekend?
4. The bus ___ (arrive) at 8:30 every morning.
5. My sister ___ (go) to university in London.
🎯 Harder: Write the correct Present Simple form of the verb in brackets.
1. My dad ___ (watch) the news every night at 7 PM.
2. She ___ (not / eat) meat — she is vegetarian.
3. ___ (he / have) a car? No, he ___ (take) the bus.
4. Water ___ (freeze) at 0°C.
5. The last flight to Rome ___ (depart) at 22:50. (timetable)

2. Signal Words for Future Timetables

These words and phrases are typical signals that a sentence refers to a fixed future event — a timetable, schedule, or time clause. When you see them, use the Present Simple.

⏰ Timetable signals (→ Present Simple):

at + time (at 9 PM) on + day (on Monday) the train / bus / flight the lesson / match / show according to the timetable

🔗 Time clause conjunctions (→ Present Simple in the clause):

when after before as soon as until / till once by the time
SentenceForm UsedWhy?
The lesson starts at 8 AM.Present SimpleFixed timetable
She is going to study medicine.be going toPersonal intention / plan
When she comes, we eat.Pres. Simple (clause)Time clause after "when"
She is meeting Tom after class.Pres. ContinuousArranged future plan
After the film ends, let's get pizza.Pres. Simple (clause)Time clause after "after"
📝 Easy: Select the correct Present Simple form for the timetable or time clause.
1. After she ___ her homework, she is going to watch a film.
2. The match ___ at 3 PM on Saturday — it's in the programme.
3. She is going to wait here until he ___.
4. Once you ___ this book, you are going to understand everything.
5. The shop ___ at 9 AM. (official opening hours)
🎯 Harder: Write the full sentence. Use Present Simple for the timetable or time clause part.
1. The train / depart / at 14:30 from platform 3.
2. She is going to phone you / as soon as / she / land.
3. Before / she / go / to university, / she is going to / travel for a year.
4. The ceremony / begin / at 6 PM / according to the programme.
5. When / he / be / ready, / we are going to / leave.

3. Comparing Future Forms

English has several ways to talk about the future. At this stage we focus on three forms. Study the differences carefully.

FormWhen to useExample
Present Simple Fixed timetables & schedules; time clauses after when / after / before / as soon as / once / until. "The flight leaves at 7 AM."
"When she gets back, we eat."
Present Continuous Arranged future plans — confirmed with another person, often with a specific time or place. "I am meeting Sara at 6."
"We are flying to Rome on Friday."
be going to Personal intentions and plans (often no fixed time yet); predictions based on evidence right now. "I am going to learn Spanish."
"Look — it is going to rain."
❌ Wrong:
"The train is going to leave at 8:15."
(It's a timetable — use Present Simple)
✅ Correct:
"The train leaves at 8:15."
(Present Simple for fixed schedule)
❌ Wrong:
"She is going to meet her friend at 3 PM. They arranged it last week."
(Arranged plan with time = Present Continuous)
✅ Correct:
"She is meeting her friend at 3 PM."
(Present Continuous for personal arrangement)
📝 Easy: Choose the best future form for each sentence.
1. She has no money. She ___ ask her parents for help. (her intention)
2. We have tickets and a reservation — we ___ dinner at La Rosa tonight.
3. The museum ___ at 10 AM and ___ at 5 PM every day. (official hours)
4. Before I ___ this book, I am not going to watch the film.
5. He ___ (meet) the manager tomorrow at 10 AM. They confirmed it yesterday.
🎯 Harder: Fill in the correct future form of the verb in brackets. Think carefully — no will!
1. The last train ___ (leave) at midnight. Check the timetable!
2. As soon as she ___ (hear) the news, she is going to be very happy.
3. He has already decided — he ___ (move) to London next spring.
4. They ___ (fly) to Edinburgh next Sunday. The tickets are booked and confirmed.
5. Once she ___ (finish) university, she is going to travel for a year.

4. Describing Character: Key Patterns & Opposites

In English, personality adjectives always come before the noun or after a linking verb (be, seem, look, appear, feel). Study the sentence patterns below.

PatternExampleNotes
subject + be + adj."She is very generous."Most common pattern
adj. + noun"He is a hardworking student."Adjective comes before the noun
seem / look + adj."He seems quite shy at first."Describes a first impression
can be + adj."She can be a bit stubborn."Sometimes / not always
tend to be + adj."They tend to be very reliable."General tendency

🔄 Opposites — Learn in Pairs
Many personality adjectives have a clear opposite. Some opposites are formed by adding a negative prefix to the beginning of the word. Others are completely different words — you simply have to learn them.

PositiveMeaning (BG)OppositeMeaning (BG)
kindдобросърдечен / милrudeгруб / невъзпитан
patientтърпеливimpatientнетърпелив (prefix im-)
politeучтив / вежливimpoliteневежлив / невъзпитан (prefix im-)
generousщедърselfishегоистичен
honestчестенdishonestнечестен (prefix dis-)
confidentуверен в себе сиshyсрамежлив
sociableобщителенunsociableнеобщителен (prefix un-)
hardworkingтрудолюбивlazyмързелив
sensibleразуменfoolishглупав / несериозен
cheerfulвеселmiserableнещастен / потиснат
reliableнадежденunreliableненадежден (prefix un-)
💡 Which prefix do I use? — The Rules

There is no single rule that works for every word, but there are clear patterns. At A2 level, the four most important prefixes are un-, in-, dis-, and the variants of in-.

un- — the most common prefix for adjectives. Use it as your first guess when you are unsure.
  → unreliable, unsociable, unfriendly, unhappy, unkind

in- — very common, especially with adjectives that come from Latin. Used before most consonants and vowels.
  → insensitive, incomplete, independent, inefficient, informal, invisible

⤷ im- — in- changes to im- before words beginning with p or m. This is because the n sound naturally changes to an m sound before these letters — it is easier to say.
  → impatient, impolite, impossible, imperfect, immature, immoral
  Try saying "inpatient" aloud — your mouth naturally says "impatient".

⤷ il- — in- changes to il- before words beginning with l.
  → illegal, illogical, illiterate, illegible

⤷ ir- — in- changes to ir- before words beginning with r.
  → irresponsible, irregular, irrational, irrelevant

Summary — in- and its forms:
Next letterPrefix usedExample
p, mim-impatient, immature
lil-illegal, illogical
rir-irresponsible, irrational
everything elsein-insensitive, incomplete

dis- — a separate prefix, not related to in-. Used with a smaller group of words, mostly those with Latin roots. Learn these individually.
  → dishonest, disorganised, disloyal, disrespectful, disagreeable

No prefix — some adjectives do not use any prefix. Their opposite is a completely different word that must be learnt separately.
  → kind → rude  |  generous → selfish  |  brave → cowardly  |  cheerful → miserable
  Note: forms like "unkind" or "ungenerous" do exist but are formal or literary — in everyday speech, use the different word.

⚠️ False friend: Sensible ≠ sensitive
Sensible = разумен (makes good decisions)  |  Sensitive = чувствителен (gets upset easily)
📝 Easy: Choose the correct personality adjective.
1. He never tells lies. He is very ___.
2. She loves meeting new people and going to parties. She is very ___.
3. He always wants what other people have. He is very ___.
4. She works 12 hours a day and never stops. She is incredibly ___.
5. He thinks he is better than everyone and never listens to others. He is ___.
🎯 Harder: Write the correct opposite. Where possible, use a prefix (dis-, im-, un-).
1. She is NOT rude. She is ___.
2. He is NOT honest. He is ___.
3. She is NOT patient. She is ___.
4. He is NOT reliable. He is ___.
5. She is NOT lazy. She is ___.
6. He is NOT generous. He is ___.
7. She is NOT cheerful. She is ___.
8. He is NOT sociable. He is ___.

Reading: Personality & Plans

👩‍💼

Text 1: My Best Friend

My best friend is called Maya, and I think she is one of the kindest people I have ever met. She is always ready to help others and she never thinks about herself first. She is generous, too — last month she bought me a birthday present even though I told her not to. Maya is also very reliable. When she says she will do something, she always does it. She has never let me down. That is why I look up to her so much. She can be a bit serious sometimes, but that is because she is very ambitious. She is going to university next year — the course starts in September — and she is going to study medicine. Once she finishes her degree, she plans to work abroad. I am not as confident as Maya, but when I am with her, I feel better. We get on really well and we have a lot in common. I hope our friendship continues for a long time.

Questions:

1. Which personality adjective is NOT used to describe Maya?

2. When does Maya's university course start?

3. What does "she has never let me down" mean?

4. Why does the writer feel more confident when she is with Maya? (Inference)

🚂

Text 2: A Busy Weekend

I have a very busy weekend coming up and I'm really looking forward to it! On Saturday morning, I'm meeting my sister for coffee at 10 AM. We haven't seen each other for a month, so there is a lot to talk about. After we finish our coffee, we are going shopping together in the town centre. In the afternoon, I'm travelling to Manchester by train. The train departs at 14:22 from platform 6, and it arrives at 16:45. My friend Tom is meeting me at the station and we are going to watch a football match in the evening — the match starts at 7 PM. On Sunday, I plan to visit Tom's family. His mum is very warm and welcoming, and his dad is really funny and sociable — I always enjoy spending time with them. Once the visit finishes, Tom is going to drive me to the station. The last train back leaves at 20:10, so I need to be on time! I can't wait. It's going to be a great weekend.

Questions:

1. What time does the writer's train arrive in Manchester?

2. Which adjectives describe Tom's dad?

3. How is the writer getting back from Manchester?

4. Which future form is used for the train times in the text, and why? (Language focus)

Text 1 / 2

Cloze Text: A New Classmate

Read the text. For each gap, select the correct word or phrase from the drop-down menu. There are 13 options available — but only 11 gaps. Two words will NOT be used.
Word Box: honest · as soon as · sociable · hardworking · leaves · when · once · generous · arrives · shy · impatient · selfish · reliable

There is a new student in our class. His name is Daniel and at first he seemed quite (1) — he didn't speak much and sat by himself. But after a few days, we started talking and I realised he is actually very (2) and loves meeting new people.

He is also extremely (3). He never misses a lesson and always prepares carefully. He told me he is (4) too — he always does what he promises.

What I like most about Daniel is that he is (5). He always tells the truth, even (6) it is difficult. He also seems very (7) — last week he brought biscuits for the whole class.

Next term, a big test is coming up. The term (8) on the 6th of January, and the test is in week 2. (9) the test is over, Daniel says he wants to go on a short trip with the class. The last bus for the trip (10) at 8 AM sharp, so everyone needs to be on time. (11) the teacher confirms the trip, we are going to start planning.

Exercises

15 exercises covering all grammar and vocabulary from this lesson.

Tense Writing Practice

Allowed tenses: Present Simple · Present Continuous · Past Simple · be going to  |  No will in this lesson.
Read the clue in each sentence carefully — it tells you which tense to use. Write the verb in the correct form.