A2/B1 — Daily Routine

My Daily Routine & Future Forms

My Daily Routine · Will · Be Going To · Present Continuous · Present Simple
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Vocabulary: Daily Routine & Plans

Focus: Words related to your daily schedule, chores, work shifts, and making future plans or appointments.

Daily Routine & Work

Commute/kəˈmjuːt/Пътуване до работа/училище
Chore/tʃɔːr/Домакинска работа / Задължение
Shift/ʃɪft/Работна смяна
Schedule/ˈʃedʒ.uːl/График / Разписание
Routine/ruːˈtiːn/Ежедневие / Рутина
Workload/ˈwɜːk.ləʊd/Натовареност / Обем работа
Overtime/ˈəʊ.və.taɪm/Извънреден труд / Извънредно работя
Rush hour/ˈrʌʃ aʊər/Час пик (натоварено движение)

Plans & Appointments

Appointment/əˈpɔɪnt.mənt/Уговорена среща (напр. при лекар)
Arrangement/əˈreɪndʒ.mənt/Уговорка / Организация
Errand/ˈer.ənd/Задача (за вършене навън, напр. пазаруване)
Deadline/ˈded.laɪn/Краен срок
Timetable/ˈtaɪm.teɪ.bəl/Разписание (влак, автобус, учебно)
Availability/əˌveɪ.ləˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/Наличност / Свободно работно време

Routine Verbs

Oversleep/ˌəʊ.vəˈsliːp/Успивам се
Postpone/pəʊstˈpəʊn/Отлагам
Reschedule/ˌriːˈʃedʒ.uːl/Пренасрочвам
Attend/əˈtend/Присъствам на / Посещавам
Rush/rʌʃ/Бързам / Движа се набързо
Manage to/ˈmæn.ɪdʒ tuː/Успявам да (въпреки трудности)
Run out of time/rʌn aʊt əv taɪm/Свършва ми времето

Grammar Lab: Future Forms

1. Will — Spontaneous Decisions, Promises, Predictions & Offers

Use will ('ll) when you make a decision at the moment of speaking, offer help, make a promise, or predict without visible evidence.
Affirmative: Subject + will / 'll + base verb  ·  Negative: Subject + won't / will not + base verb  ·  Question: Will + subject + base verb?

✅ Instant decision (right now)

  • The phone is ringing. — I 'll answer it! (decided just now)
  • We don't have milk. — I 'll go to the shop.

✅ Promise / offer

  • I promise I won't be late.
  • You look tired. I 'll make you a coffee.

✅ Prediction (opinion / belief)

  • I think it will rain tomorrow.
  • I don't think he will pass the test.
  • Clue words: I think, I believe, I expect, probably, I'm sure

❌ Negative & ❓ Question

  • She won't come to the party.
  • Will you help me later?
  • What time will they arrive?
⚠️ Watch out: Don't use will for pre-made plans — use going to or Present Continuous instead.
"Oh, there's no sugar! I 'll buy some." ✓ (instant) vs "I 'm going to buy a new laptop." ✓ (decided earlier)
📝 Easy Exercise — Will. Complete with will ('ll) or won't. Each sentence is a different use.
1. The phone is ringing! Don't worry — I ___ (answer) it.
2. I promise I ___ (not / tell) anyone your secret.
3. I think the traffic ___ (be) very heavy tomorrow morning.
4. You look cold. I ___ (close) the window for you.
5. ___ you help me carry these boxes, please?
🎯 Hard Exercise — Will. Write the full form — affirmative, negative or question as needed. Read the context carefully.
1. A: There's no coffee left. B: ___ ! (offer — I / make / some)
2. ___ (she / come) to the meeting tomorrow, do you think?
3. I don't think humans ___ (live) on Mars in the next fifty years.
4. I can't talk right now — I ___ (call) you back in five minutes. (promise)
5. He ___ (not / finish) the report on time. He's been distracted all week. (prediction)

2. Be Going To — Plans/Intentions & Predictions with Evidence

Use be going to (a) when a decision or plan was made before the moment of speaking, or (b) when there is visible evidence that something is about to happen.
Affirmative: Subject + am/is/are going to + base verb  ·  Negative: Subject + am/is/are not going to + base verb  ·  Question: Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base verb?

✅ Pre-made plan / intention

  • I am going to start the gym next week. (I decided last month.)
  • We are going to paint the kitchen. (We already bought the paint.)
  • Clue words: I've decided, I plan to, I intend to, We have decided

✅ Prediction with visible evidence

  • Look at those clouds! It 's going to rain. (you can see the clouds)
  • Look at that car! It 's going to crash! (you can see it happening)
  • Clue words: Look!, Watch out!, You can see that…

❌ Negative & ❓ Question

  • I am not going to attend the meeting.
  • Are you going to visit them this summer?
  • What are they going to do about it?
💡 Will vs Going To — the key test: Did you decide NOW? → will  |  Did you decide BEFORE? → going to
E.g. "The phone rings → I 'll answer it." (NOW)  vs  "I told you yesterday, I 'm going to call him tonight." (BEFORE)
📝 Easy Exercise — Be Going To. Complete each sentence correctly.
1. I've made up my mind. I ___ (look) for a new job next month.
2. Look out! She ___ (drop) that heavy box!
3. We ___ (buy) a house next year. We have already started saving money.
4. I ___ (not / eat) fast food anymore. I have decided to be healthier.
5. ___ (she / study) medicine at university? That's her dream and plan!
🎯 Hard Exercise — Will vs. Be Going To. Choose correctly and write the full form.
1. I've decided! Next month, I ___ (start) going to the gym every morning.
2. Oh no, I spilled water! — Don't worry, I ___ (get) a cloth. (spontaneous)
3. Look at that kid on the scooter! He ___ (fall)! (evidence)
4. I think it ___ (be) a warm summer this year. (general prediction, no evidence)
5. ___ (they / not / continue) the project? I heard they ran out of funding. (plan question)

3. Present Continuous for Future — Fixed Arrangements

Use Present Continuous (am/is/are + verb-ing) for future events when you have a fixed, confirmed arrangement with other people — something is in your diary, tickets are booked, a table is reserved, or it has been organised with someone else.
Affirmative: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing  ·  Negative: Subject + am/is/are not + verb-ing  ·  Question: Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?

✅ Fixed arrangement examples

  • I am meeting Sarah for lunch tomorrow. (We arranged it.)
  • They are flying to Rome on Friday. (Tickets booked.)
  • We are having a team meeting at 3 PM. (In the diary.)

❌ Negative & ❓ Question

  • I am not working tomorrow — it's a holiday.
  • Are you seeing the doctor tomorrow?
  • What are you doing this weekend?

🔑 Key signals

  • "We agreed on this yesterday / last week."
  • "Tickets are booked / the table is reserved."
  • "It's in my calendar / diary."
  • "We have organised it / it is arranged."
💡 Going To vs. Present Continuous: Both express plans, but Present Continuous requires something arranged with others.
"I 'm going to clean my room." ✓ (personal intention) vs "I 'm meeting Maria at 6." ✓ (mutual arrangement with Maria)
📝 Easy Exercise — Present Continuous. Complete with the correct present continuous form.
1. I ___ (have) lunch with my colleague at 1 PM tomorrow. We agreed yesterday.
2. We ___ (fly) to Paris on Friday. The tickets are already booked.
3. What ___ (you / do) this weekend? Any plans with others?
4. I ___ (not / work) on Monday — I have the day off.
5. She ___ (meet) the new boss at 11 AM in his office today. (arranged)
🎯 Hard Exercise — Present Continuous vs. Going To. Choose the best form based on context.
1. I ___ (take) my driving test next Wednesday afternoon. I booked the slot last month.
2. ___ (they / not / play) tennis on Saturday? I thought the court was booked.
3. I haven't arranged anything yet, but I ___ (start) a new diet next week. (personal intention only)
4. We ___ (play) golf on Friday. The course is reserved. (arrangement with others)
5. I ___ (see) the dentist at 4 PM tomorrow. I made the appointment last week.

4. Present Simple for Future — Timetables & Fixed Schedules

Use the Present Simple for events on an official timetable or fixed public schedule — transport, cinema showings, shop opening hours, school timetables. These times are set by an institution, not decided by a person.
Affirmative: Subject + base verb (+ -s for he/she/it)  ·  Negative: Subject + don't/doesn't + base verb  ·  Question: Do/Does + subject + base verb?

✅ Examples

  • The train leaves at 08:30 from platform 3.
  • The film starts at 9 PM tonight.
  • The supermarket opens at 8:00 AM.
  • My shift finishes at 6 PM on Fridays.

❌ Negative & ❓ Question

  • My bus doesn't leave until 9:15.
  • What time does the bank open?
  • Does the ferry run on Sundays?

🔑 Key signals

  • "The timetable says…"
  • "According to the schedule…"
  • "The opening hours show…"
  • Buses, trains, cinemas, shops, classes — official times
⚠️ Watch out: "The train leaves at 8." ✓ (official timetable — Pres. Simple) vs "I 'm catching the 8 o'clock train." ✓ (personal arrangement — Pres. Continuous)
📝 Easy Exercise — Present Simple for Timetables. Use the correct present simple form.
1. The next bus to the city centre ___ (leave) at 10:45.
2. What time ___ (the film / start) tonight?
3. The school term ___ (end) on the 20th of December.
4. My yoga class ___ (not / finish) until 8:30 on Tuesday evenings.
5. The museum ___ (close) at 5 PM on Sundays.
🎯 Hard Exercise — Present Simple vs. Present Continuous. Think carefully: is it a timetable or a personal arrangement?
1. Hurry up! The bus ___ (depart) in five minutes! (timetable)
2. I ___ (meet) the new manager at 3 PM today. (arrangement)
3. Our English class ___ (begin) at 9:00 AM every Monday. (timetable)
4. ___ (the concert / not / start) until 8 PM according to the programme?
5. They ___ (fly) to Berlin tomorrow — they have their boarding passes already. (arrangement)

5. Advanced Future Phrases & Phrasal Verbs

Besides will and going to, native speakers use specific phrases to show exactly how close, certain, or planned a future event is.

1. Imminent & Immediate

  • Be about to + verb: Seconds/minutes away. "I am about to leave."
  • Be on the point of + -ing: Exactly at the moment before. "I was on the point of leaving when the phone rang."
  • Be set to + verb: Ready and prepared to start. "The race is set to begin at noon."

2. Certainty & Predictability

  • Be certain/guaranteed to: Zero doubt. "The flight is certain to be delayed."
  • A matter of time before: Inevitable. "It's only a matter of time before they find out."
  • Be in for + noun: Predict an experience (often challenging). "We're in for a bumpy ride."

3. Plans & Schedules

  • Be to + verb: Formal schedule/instruction. "The PM is to visit tomorrow."
  • Be supposed/meant to: Expected/planned. "It's supposed to rain."
  • Be slated/scheduled to: Official timetables. "Slated to be released in Nov."

4. On the Horizon

  • In the pipeline: Being worked on or planned. "New features are in the pipeline."
  • On the cards: (UK) Likely to happen. "A promotion might be on the cards."

Routine Phrasal Verbs

  • Put off: Отлагам (postpone)
  • Catch up on: Наваксвам с (work, sleep)
  • Wrap up: Приключвам (a meeting, task)
  • Look forward to: Очаквам с нетърпение (+ ing)
📝 Easy Exercise — Future Phrases. Complete using the ONE missing word (or short phrase) from the boxes above.
1. It's 5:00 PM. Let's ___ (приключваме) the meeting and go home.
2. The athletes are on the track. The race is ___ (готово/предстои) to begin at noon.
3. They keep making mistakes. It's only a matter of ___ (въпрос на) before they get caught.
4. We can't talk about it yet, but some exciting new projects are in the ___ (в процес на подготовка).
5. I was on the ___ (на прага) of leaving when the phone rang.
🎯 Hard Exercise — Future Phrases. Rewrite each sentence using the phrase in brackets so the meaning stays the same.
1. We are definitely going to experience delays at the border. (IN FOR) → We ___ some delays at the border.
2. It isn't expected to rain today, so I didn't bring an umbrella. (SUPPOSED) → It ___ to rain today.
3. The company is working on new features that will be released soon. (PIPELINE) → New features are ___.
4. A pay rise is quite likely for her. (ON THE CARDS) → A pay rise ___ for her.
5. The press conference is officially scheduled to start at noon. (SET TO) → The press conference ___ at noon.

Reading: Schedules and Plans

Text 1: A Hectic Monday

My daily routine is usually quite relaxed, but tomorrow is going to be incredibly stressful. I normally wake up at 7:00 AM and have a slow breakfast, but tomorrow I am waking up at 5:30. I am meeting a new client at the office early in the morning. I am very nervous, but I think the meeting will go well. After that, I have a lot of errands to run. My train to the city centre leaves at 10:15 exactly, so I can't be late. I promise I won't oversleep! In the afternoon, my manager and I are having a late lunch to discuss the new schedule. The restaurant opens at 1:00 PM. Once the day is finally over, I am going to go straight to bed. I won't even check my emails.

Questions:

1. Why is tomorrow going to be different from the normal routine?

2. What time does the train leave?

3. What is the plan for the afternoon?

4. What intention does the writer have for the end of the day?

✈️

Text 2: The Business Trip

"Look at this traffic! We are going to miss our flight," David shouted from the driver's seat. Sarah looked at her watch. "Don't panic. The plane departs at 14:30. We still have two hours. I'll check the GPS for a faster route." They were travelling to Berlin for an important conference. Their normal daily routine involved sitting at a desk from 9 to 5, but this week was completely different. They are staying at a hotel near the conference centre. Tomorrow morning, the opening speech starts at 9:00 AM sharp. "Okay, the GPS says we will be there in thirty minutes," Sarah said. "We are meeting the German team for dinner at 8 PM tonight. I hope we aren't too tired."

Questions:

1. Why is David worried?

2. What spontaneous decision does Sarah make?

3. What time does the opening speech start tomorrow?

4. What arrangement do they have for tonight?

Text 1 / 2

Cloze Text: My New Routine

Read the text about someone changing their daily habits. Type exactly ONE word per gap. Uses phrases and vocabulary from this lesson — pay attention to the context clues!

My daily routine has been terrible lately, so I have made some decisions. Next week, I (1) going to start waking up at 6 AM every day. I know it will be hard, but I (2) drink a large cup of coffee to help me wake up.

Tomorrow is my first day with the new schedule. My alarm is set because my yoga class (3) at 7:00 AM sharp — it is on the official timetable. After that, I (4) meeting my colleague for a quick breakfast to discuss our project. We agreed on this yesterday, so it is already arranged.

Look at the weather forecast — it says it is (5) to rain heavily tomorrow afternoon. Because of that, I think I (6) take the bus to work instead of walking. The bus timetable says the next one (7) at 8:30 AM.

I have a doctor's (8) at 4 PM — it is already booked. I also need to (9) up on some reading I put off last week. I hope my new routine (10) make me feel better. It's a big change, but I am (11) to try my best — and I am going to (12) up every evening by 10 PM!

Key Word Transformation (KWT)

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word given in capitals. Do not change the key word. Use between two and five words. Several questions use phrases from Section 5 of the Grammar Lab — think about the context to choose the right phrase.

Exercises

Mixed exercises covering all four future forms: will · be going to · present continuous · present simple. Every exercise contains affirmative, negative and question forms — and each exercise uses different answers (not all the same form).

Tense Writing: Write the Correct Form

Instructions: Write the correct future form for the verb in brackets. Look for clues: is it a timetable, an arrangement, a promise, or an intention? Use contractions (e.g., 'll, 'm) if you wish.
🎯 Exercise 1 (1–10) — Will vs. Be Going To. Focus on instant decisions vs. plans/evidence.
1. I've decided! Next month, I ___ (start) going to the gym every morning.
2. Oh no, I dropped my papers! — Don't worry, I ___ (help) you pick them up.
3. Look at that guy on the bike! He is riding too fast. He ___ (crash).
4. I promise I ___ (finish) my chores before you get home.
5. We ___ (paint) the living room this weekend. We bought the paint yesterday.
6. I don't think humans ___ (live) on Mars in the next fifty years.
7. Are you cold? I ___ (close) the window for you.
8. She ___ (study) medicine at university. That's her dream and her plan.
9. Wait, we don't have any bread? I ___ (go) to the bakery right now.
10. I feel terrible. My stomach hurts. I think I ___ (be) sick. (evidence)
🎯 Exercise 2 (11–20) — Present Simple vs. Present Continuous for the future. Arrangements vs. Timetables.
1. The next train to London ___ (leave) at 14:15 from platform 3.
2. I can't come to the party tonight. I ___ (have) dinner with my grandparents.
3. What time ___ (the film / start) tonight?
4. We ___ (meet) outside the cinema at 7 PM. See you then!
5. My yoga class ___ (finish) at 8:30 every Tuesday evening.
6. They ___ (fly) to Rome tomorrow. They already have their tickets.
7. The supermarket ___ (open) at 8:00 AM tomorrow morning.
8. Next week, she ___ (take) her driving test on Wednesday afternoon. (arrangement)
9. The school term ___ (end) on the 15th of December.
10. I ___ (see) the dentist at 10 AM tomorrow, so I'll be late for work.
🎯 Exercise 3 (21–30) — Mixed future tenses (Will, Going to, Present Simple, Present Continuous).
1. I think the traffic ___ (be) very heavy during our morning commute today.
2. My manager told me we ___ (have) a special meeting at 3 PM tomorrow. (arrangement)
3. Have you decided what to do with the old sofa? — Yes, we ___ (sell) it online.
4. Can someone answer the door? — I ___ (do) it!
5. The museum ___ (close) at 5 PM on Sundays.
6. Look at the boss's face. He looks furious. He ___ (shout) at us.
7. I ___ (not / tell) anyone about your mistake. You can trust me.
8. What time ___ (your shift / begin) tomorrow?
9. I ___ (visit) my parents this weekend. I bought the train tickets yesterday.
10. I hope you ___ (have) a wonderful time on your holiday.
🎯 Exercise 4 (31–40) — Mixed future tenses focusing on daily routine and errands.
1. I ___ (go) to the supermarket later. We have no milk. (intention)
2. The parcel delivery ___ (arrive) between 2 PM and 4 PM according to the schedule.
3. You look exhausted. Sit down, and I ___ (make) you a cup of tea.
4. We ___ (play) tennis on Saturday morning. The court is booked.
5. The deadline is tomorrow, so I think I ___ (have to) work late tonight.
6. Watch out! You ___ (drop) those glasses!
7. My bus ___ (not / leave) until 9:15, so I have plenty of time.
8. I promise I ___ (reschedule) the meeting for next week.
9. She ___ (start) a new job next Monday. Her contract is signed.
10. I am sure that tomorrow ___ (be) a better day.
🎯 Exercise 5 (41–50) — Final mixed exercise. Read the context carefully!
1. We ___ (fly) to Paris next week. Our flight ___ (depart) at 8:00 AM. (arrangement / timetable) /
2. Look at the time! We ___ (miss) the start of the movie! (evidence)
3. If you carry the boxes, I ___ (open) the door for you.
4. I ___ (not / work) tomorrow because it is a national holiday. (arrangement/plan)
5. What time ___ (the bank / open) on Saturdays?
6. Next year, we ___ (buy) a new car. We have already started saving money.
7. I expect that he ___ (postpone) the meeting again. He always does.
8. I can't talk right now, I ___ (call) you back in five minutes.
9. She ___ (meet) the new boss at 11 AM today in his office.
10. I am so tired. I think I ___ (go) to bed early tonight.