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1B Grammar

Talk about typical behaviour

Unit 1

I CAN use adverbs of frequency with the present perfect
I CAN describe how people usually behave

Grammar

10 cards

The present perfect is one of the most useful tenses in English for talking about experiences, changes, and situations that continue up to now. When we add an adverb of frequency — a word like always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely or never — we can describe how often something has happened in a person's life or up to the present moment. This combination is perfect for talking about typical behaviour, because we want to say what someone generally does or does not do.

The most important rule is the word order. In a present perfect sentence, the adverb of frequency sits in the middle position — exactly between the auxiliary verb (have / has) and the main verb (the past participle). Look at the table below.

Subject	have/has	Adverb	Past participle	Example
I	have	always	loved	I have always loved cooking.
She	has	never	been	She has never been late.
They	have	usually	finished	They have usually finished by six.
We	have	often	visited	We have often visited them.

Notice the order: have/has → adverb → past participle. This is the only correct order in this tense. We never put the adverb before have/has (e.g. 'Always I have loved cooking' is wrong), and we do not put it after the past participle (e.g. 'I have loved always cooking' is also wrong).

A second important point is that 'never' is already negative, so we do not add not after it. We say 'She has never been late' — never 'She has not never been late'. Similarly, 'always' is a strong word: when we use it with the present perfect, we often mean 'every time, without exception' — for example, 'He has always kept his promises.'

Common mistakes to avoid:

❌ 'I have always been loving cooking.' — Do not use a continuous form. The present perfect simple is correct.
❌ 'She has never been late never.' — One adverb is enough.
❌ 'Always I have been happy here.' — Keep the adverb in the middle.

We use this structure most often to describe a person's character or habits over time. For example, 'He has always been generous' means every time we have known him, he has been generous. 'They have usually worked from home' means that, in their experience, working from home is the normal pattern. Practice the word order in the steps that follow, and you will be able to talk about typical behaviour naturally.

زاي نتكلم عن السلوك المعتاد: Present Perfect + Adverb of Frequency

يا صديقي، النهاردة هنتعلم قاعدة مهمة جداً في الإنجليزي: إزاي تتصف حد أو نفسك وبيقول إيه العادات اللي دايماً بتتعمل. السر هو إننا بنستخدم الـ present perfect مع adverb of frequency (ظرف التكرار)، عشان نوصف سلوك بيمتد من الماضي لحد دلوقتي.

القاعدة الذهبية: ترتيب الكلمات (Word Order)

الترتيب ثابت دايماً ومش بيتغير:

Subject + have/has + adverb + past participle

شوف الأمثلة دي:

I have always loved cooking. (أنا دايماً بحب الطبخ)
She has never been late for work. (هي عمري ما اتأخرت على الشغل)
We have often visited them. (إحنا كتير كنا نزورهم)
They have usually finished by six. (هم عادةً بيخلصوا قبل الستة)

لاحظ إن الـ adverb بيقعد في middle position، يعني بين have/has وبين الـ past participle. وده المكان الوحيد الصح.

الكلمات اللي هنستخدمها:

always = دايماً
usually = عادةً
often = كتير
sometimes = أحياناً
rarely = نادراً
never = عمري ما / أبداً

حاجات لازم تاخد بالك منها:

متحطش الـ adverb قبل have. غلط تقول Always I have loved cooking. الصح: I have always loved cooking.
متحطش not بعد never. لأن never أصلاً معناها نفي. يعني مش هنقول She has not never been late. الصح: She has never been late.
ما تستعملش الـ continuous مع الـ present perfect لما تيجي تصف عادة. يعني غلط تقول I have always been loving cooking. الصح: I have always loved cooking.

امتى نستعملها؟

لما تحب تتصف شخصية حد أو عاداته طول عمره. مثلاً He has always been generous معناها إن في كل مرة عرفناه فيها، كان كريم. وThey have usually worked from home معناها إن الشغل من البيت هو النمط العادي عندهم.

في الـ exercises اللي جاية، ركز على ترتيب الكلمات كويس، وهتلاقي نفسك بتختار الـ adverb في مكانه الصح بسرعة. بالتوفيق يا بطل!

I have always loved cooking.

Model: a positive sentence with the adverb 'always' in the middle position.

She has never been late for work.

Model: 'never' already has a negative meaning, so we do not add 'not' after it.

Required

Look at the two examples above. Where does the adverb of frequency go in a present perfect sentence?

Before 'have/has'
Between 'have/has' and the past participle
After the past participle

Required

Tom ___ often visited Paris on holiday.

Required

I ___ never tried Indian food.

Required

In 'She has usually arrived early', the adverb 'usually' comes between 'has' and the past participle.

Required

Put the words in the correct order to make a present perfect sentence with an adverb of frequency.

have
I
always
liked
cooking

Required

Which sentence is correct?

Always I have loved cooking.
I have always loved cooking.
I have loved always cooking.

Required

Drag the missing adverb of frequency into each sentence.

always
often
usually
never

She has been on time for class.

They have missed a meeting.

I have walked to school.

He has helped his neighbours.

Listening

5 cards

You are going to hear a short conversation between two colleagues, Emma and Tom, in the office kitchen during a coffee break. They are talking about their colleague Sara and how she usually behaves at work. You will hear many examples of the present perfect with adverbs of frequency — sentences like 'She has always arrived early' and 'She has never been late'.

This is the kind of conversation you might have in real life. Colleagues, neighbours, and friends often talk about other people's habits: 'She is always on time,' 'He never complains,' 'They have usually been very kind.' Listen for the adverbs in the middle position (between have/has and the past participle), because this is the main grammar point of the lesson.

Before you listen, think about this question: What kind of person at work do you most admire — someone who is always on time, always kind, or always helpful? Why? There is no single right answer — your opinion is what matters.

As you listen, try to notice:

Which adverbs of frequency does Emma and Tom use? (always, never, usually, often, sometimes)
How many positive things do they say about Sara?
Does Tom mention anything slightly negative at the end?

Pay special attention to the rhythm of the conversation. British English speakers group words together, and weak words like have and has become very short — almost a tiny 'uh'. You will hear Sara's name many times, but the verbs and adverbs are what carry the meaning.

After you listen, you will answer three questions. The first is about the general topic (gist). The second is about a specific detail (true or false). The third is a gap fill with a key phrase from the conversation. When you answer, remember that the answers are all in the dialogue you just heard. Trust what you heard, not what you think might be true in general.

إيه اللي هنتعلمه النهاردة؟

في الدرس ده هنتعلم إزاي نوصف سلوك حد معين في الشغل أو في الحياة اليومية باستخدام الـ present perfect مع adverbs of frequency. الحوار اللي سمعناه بين Emma و Tom عن زميلتهم Sara بيوضحلنا القاعدة دي بشكل طبيعي جداً.

تركيب الـ Present Perfect مع Adverb

الـ present perfect بيتكون من: have / has + past participle. لما نحط adverb في الجملة، بييجي في middle position، يعني بين have/has والـ past participle. اسمع الأمثلة دي من الحوار:

She has always arrived before everyone else.
She has never been late.
She has usually brought coffee for the whole team.
She has often stayed late to help others.
I have always thought she was very generous.

أهم الـ Adverbs اللي لازم تعرفها

always → دايماً
never → أبداً (وده معناه إن الحاجة دي ما حصلتش خالص)
usually → غالباً
often → كتير
sometimes → أحياناً

ملاحظات مهمة

always و never أقوى من الباقي، ودايماً بييجوا في النص.
usually و often و sometimes معناهم إن الحاجة بتحصل بس مش دايماً.
لما تستخدم never مع present perfect، يبقى معناه إن الحاجة دي عمرها ما حصلت من أول ما بدأت تراقب الشخص ده.
الـ verb بعد الـ adverb لازم يكون في التصريف التالت (past participle)، زي: arrived, been, brought, stayed, thought.

طب إزاي تستخدمها في حياتك؟

لو عايز توصف زميل أو صاحب، ممكن تقول:

He has always been helpful.
She has never complained about anything.
They have usually finished work on time.

الجمل دي بتدي إحساس إن الصفة دي مستمرة من الماضي لحد دلوقتي، وده بالظبط اللي بيستخدموه الإنجليز لما يتكلموا عن عادات الناس. كده تقدر تتكلم عن أي حد بشكل طبيعي وتصف سلوكه بكل سهولة!

Emma and Tom are in the office kitchen during a coffee break. They are talking about their colleague Sara.

E
Emma Tom, have you noticed how Sara behaves at the office?
T
Tom Yes, I have. She has always arrived before everyone else.
E
Emma That's right. She has never been late, not once in three years.
T
Tom And she has usually brought coffee for the whole team.
E
Emma She has often stayed late to help others too.
T
Tom I have always thought she was very generous with her time.
E
Emma Me too. She is also extremely patient with new staff.
T
Tom Some people have sometimes complained that she is too quiet, though.

Required

What is the main topic of the conversation?

Sara's holiday plans
Sara's typical behaviour at work
Sara's salary
Sara's new job

Required

Sara has sometimes arrived late to the office.

Required

According to the conversation, she has usually brought ___ for the whole team.

Pronunciation

6 cards

In natural, fast English, short function words like have and has are usually pronounced with a weak form. This means they do not sound like the strong pronunciation you see in a dictionary. Instead, the vowel becomes the schwa /ə/ — a very short, relaxed, neutral vowel sound.

Compare these two ways of saying have:

Strong form /hæv/ — used when have is the main verb and is stressed. Example: 'I have two brothers.' (Here, have means possess and is said strongly.)
Weak form /əv/ — used when have is an auxiliary verb in the present perfect and is not stressed. Example: 'I have been to London.' (Here, have just helps form the tense, so it is short.)

In the present perfect, we almost always use the weak form of have and has:

have → /əv/ — 'I have always...' /aɪ əv ɔːlweɪz/
has → /əz/ — 'She has never...' /ʃi əz nevə/

The schwa /ə/ is the most common vowel sound in English. It is short, soft, and unstressed. To make it, keep your tongue in the middle of your mouth, your lips relaxed (do not round them like /uː/ or smile like /iː/), and your jaw slightly open. The sound lasts about half as long as a strong vowel. It is the soft 'uh' sound you hear at the beginning of about /əˈbaʊt/.

Other common English words also have a schwa when they are unstressed: of, a, the, to, from, and. Listen to how short and soft they are in connected speech. For example, in 'a cup of tea', the a and of are both schwas: /ə kʌp ə tiː/.

In this lesson, focus on the weak forms of have and has. When you say a present perfect sentence quickly and naturally, these small words should not stand out — they should blend into the rhythm of the sentence. In the practice steps, listen first, then repeat short sentences. Try to keep have and has very short — almost like a tiny 'uh' before the next sound. If you say them too strongly, your English will sound slow and unnatural.

صوت الشوا /ə/ — الأساس اللي هتسمع في كل مكان

في الإنجليزي، فيه صوت اسمه schwa ورمزه /ə/. وده أهم صوت ع في اللغة كلها — هتلاقيه في كل جملة تقريباً. الفكرة إنه صوت قصير جداً، محايد، ومستخبي جوه الكلمة، زي 'أ' اللي بتقولها لما تفضل مفكر أو مش عارف ترد على حد.

الـ weak form بتاع have و has

في درس النهاردة بنتعلم حاجة محورية في الإنجليزي الطبيعي: لما بنستخدم have و has كـ helping verb (فعل مساعد) جوه الـ present perfect، إحنا مش بنقولهم بالقوة اللي شايفها في القاموس. لا، بنقولهم قصير جداً، ونسميها weak form.

have → /əv/ — بدل ما تقول 'هَڤ' كاملة، بتقول 'أڤ' كده بسرعة وبدون stress. مثلاً: "I have always been happy here" بتتقال /aɪ əv ɔːlweɪz bɪn ˈhæpi hɪə/. لاحظ إن الـ have بقت مجرد 'əv' قصيرة.
has → /əz/ — نفس الكلام، "She has never been late" بتتقال /ʃi əz nevə bɪn leɪt/. الـ has بقت 'əz' سريعة.

امتى بنستخدم الـ strong form؟

لما الـ have أو الـ has تبقى هي الفعل الأساسي نفسه، زي: "I have two brothers" — هنا معناها 'أملك'، فنقولها بقوة كاملة /hæv/. لكن في الـ present perfect، هي بس بتساعد في تركيب الزمن، فلازم تكون قصيرة ومستخبية.

إزاي تعمل صوت الشوا بفيزيكال؟

اللسان يبقى في نص بوقك، مش مرفوع لفوق ومش نازل تحت خالص
الشفايف مسترخية تماماً، مش مضمومة زي الـ /uː/ ومش مبتسمة زي الـ /iː/
الفك يكون فاتح شوية
الصوت يدّي حوالي نص مدة أي vowel عادية، يعني سريع جداً

كلمات نموذجية

جرّب تقول about /əˈbaʊt/ — الـ 'ə' في الأول دي هي الشوا بالظبط. وكمان كلمات تانية كتير بتبقى شوا لما متبقاش stressed، زي of, a, the, to, from, and. مثلاً جملة "a cup of tea" بتبقى /ə kʌp ə tiː/ — الاتنين شوا.

نصيحة للتمرين

في الخطوات الجاية، اسمع الأول كويس، وبعدين كرّر بصوت عالي. خلي الـ have والـ has قصيرة جداً، زي همسة صغيرة قبل الكلمة اللي بعدها. لو قولتهم بقوة، الإنجليزي بتاعك هيبقى بطيء ومش طبيعي، ومحدش في الإنجليز بيتكلم كده.

In fast English, the auxiliaries 'have' and 'has' usually become a tiny 'uh' sound called the schwa /ə/. 'have' becomes /əv/ and 'has' becomes /əz/. Keep your tongue relaxed in the middle of your mouth, do not round your lips, and make the sound very short.

Required

How is the word 'has' pronounced in this sentence?

/hæz/ (strong form)
/əz/ (weak form)

Required

Say this short word with a very quick, relaxed vowel: /əv/. Do not say /hæv/. Keep it tiny.

have

Required

Say this short word with a very quick, relaxed vowel: /əz/. Do not say /hæz/. Keep it tiny.

has

Required

Read the full sentence. Keep 'have' very short and weak — almost like a tiny 'uh' before 'always'. Speak at a natural speed.

I have always been happy here.

Speaking

7 cards

In this section, you will learn how to describe typical behaviour in conversation. The key grammar — present perfect with an adverb of frequency in the middle position — will help you talk about how someone usually behaves, what they have always done, or what they have never done in their life.

Here are some useful phrases for the speaking task. Each one uses an adverb of frequency with the present perfect. You can use them as a model and replace the adjectives or verbs with your own ideas.

I have always found him / her + adjective — 'I have always found him reliable.'
He / She has never + past participle — 'She has never complained.'
They have usually + past participle — 'They have usually arrived on time.'
We have often + past participle — 'We have often worked together.'
He / She has always been + adjective — 'He has always been patient.'

Combine these patterns with the character adjectives from the vocabulary section: punctual, reliable, chatty, patient, generous, moody, stubborn, tidy. For example: 'My grandmother has always been generous,' or 'My brother has never been tidy.'

In the model conversation, Emma asks Tom about his best friend. Notice how Tom uses several different adverbs (always, never, usually, often) and gives examples. You should do the same in the roleplay at the end.

Tips for natural speaking:

Keep the auxiliary have/has short and weak (pronounced /əv/ or /əz/).
Do not pause between have and the adverb.
Speak at a normal speed — slow speech sounds unnatural.
Use linking: 'She has-always-been-kind' should flow as one phrase.

Remember that describing typical behaviour is not just about facts — it is also about your feelings. You can add sentences like: I really admire that about her, It sometimes annoys me, or I find that very frustrating. These extra sentences will make your English sound more natural and personal. In the roleplay, you will talk to a new colleague about someone you know well. Try to use at least two or three different adverbs of frequency. The AI will listen to your answer and ask a follow-up question.

الوحدة دي بتعلمك تتكلم عن السلوك المعتاد للشخص اللي تعرفه، يعني إزاي توصف حد بشكل طبيعي في المحادثة. القاعدة الأساسية هنا هي present perfect مع adverb of frequency في النص، بين الـ have/has والفعل الرئيسي.

إزاي بنركب الجملة؟

الفكرة بسيطة: بنقول has/have + adverb + past participle. الـ adverb بييجي في النص بعد الـ have/has وقبل الفعل. مثلا:

She has always been kind - always بعد has وقبل been
He has never complained - never بعد has وقبل complained
We have often worked together - often بعد have وقبت worked
They have usually arrived on time - usually بعد have وقبل arrived

الـ Adverbs المهمة

الكلمات اللي بنستخدمها في النمط ده هي: always (دايما)، never (عمري ما)، usually (عادة)، وoften (كثير). حاول تستخدم اكتر من adverb واحد عشان كلامك يبقى متنوع.

أمثلة من المحادثة

في الـ dialogue، Emma بتسأل Tom عن أحسن صاحب ليه. Tom بيرد ويستخدم adverb مختلف كل مرة:

She has always been very kind
She has never said a bad word about anyone
She has usually been patient and helpful
She has often given me great advice

لاحظ إزاي Tom بيستخدم adverb مختلف في كل جملة، وده اللي بيخلي كلامه طبيعي مش مكرر.

صفات الشخصيات (Character Adjectives)

عندك كمان كلمات تانية تقدر تستخدمها عشان توصف حد: punctual (ملتزم بمواعيده)، reliable (يعتمد عليه)، chatty (بيحب يتكلم كتير)، patient (صبور)، generous (كريم)، moody (متقلب المزاج)، stubborn (عنيد)، وtidy (مرتب).

نصايح للنطق

عشان الكلام يطلع طبيعي:

الـ has/have لازم تكون ضعيفة وسريعة، بتنطق /əv/ أو /əz/
مفيش وقفة بين الـ have والـ adverb
اتكلم بسرعة عادية - الكلام البطيء باين مش طبيعي
استخدم الـ linking: 'She has always been kind' لازم تنطق كأنها كلمة واحدة، من غير وقفات بينها

إضافة المشاعر

عشان كلامك يبقى شخصي أكتر، ضيف جمل عن مشاعرك زي:

I really admire that about her
It sometimes annoys me
I find that very frustrating

كده الكلام بيبان حقيقي ومفيهوش حقائق جامدة بس. في الـ roleplay اللي جاي، هتتكلم مع زميل جديد عن حد بتعرفه كويس، فحاول تستخدم adverb مختلف في كل جملة.

A short model conversation. Emma asks Tom about his best friend's typical behaviour.

E
Emma Tell me about your best friend. How does she usually behave?
T
Tom Well, she has always been very kind. She has never said a bad word about anyone.
E
Emma That sounds lovely. Has she always been like that?
T
Tom Yes, she has usually been patient and helpful.
E
Emma You must trust her a lot.
T
Tom I do. She has often given me great advice.

He has always been generous with his time.

Model phrase: a key pattern for describing typical behaviour — 'has always been + adjective'.

Required

Read this sentence aloud. Keep 'has' short and weak (/əz/), and say 'always' smoothly after it.

My best friend has always been very patient.

Required

Read this sentence aloud. Keep 'has' short and weak, and pause very slightly after 'never' before 'been'.

She has never been late for work in her life.

Required

You are at a coffee break with a new colleague. Describe how a person you know well typically behaves. Use the present perfect with at least two different adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, never) and at least two character adjectives from this lesson (for example: punctual, patient, generous, stubborn). Speak in full sentences. Keep the auxiliary 'have/has' short and weak. The AI will listen to your answer and ask a follow-up question.

Required

I CAN use adverbs of frequency with the present perfect
I CAN describe how people usually behave

Vocabulary

6 cards

When we want to talk about how someone usually behaves, we need a strong set of character adjectives. English has many words for describing a person's typical patterns of behaviour — not what they did once, but what they do again and again. The eight adjectives in this lesson are very common at B1 level and will help you describe your friends, family, and colleagues.

Adjective	Part of speech	Meaning	Example sentence
punctual	adjective	always on time	My boss is very punctual.
reliable	adjective	you can trust them	She is the most reliable person I know.
chatty	adjective	likes to talk a lot	Our neighbour is quite chatty.
patient	adjective	calm while waiting	Teachers need to be patient.
generous	adjective	happy to give or share	He has always been generous with his time.
moody	adjective	often changes mood	He can be a bit moody in the mornings.
stubborn	adjective	refuses to change mind	Don't be so stubborn!
tidy	adjective	keeps things in order	Her desk is always tidy.

All of these words describe general habits or character traits. They answer the question 'What is this person usually like?' rather than 'What did they do yesterday?' When we connect them to the present perfect, we can also talk about how long someone has behaved this way. For example, 'He has always been generous' means that from the past up to now, every time we have known him, he has been generous.

Some adjectives have a positive meaning (punctual, reliable, patient, generous, tidy) and some are more negative or neutral (chatty, moody, stubborn). When you describe someone, choose the adjective that matches the real behaviour, not the ideal one. Chatty is not always negative — in a friendly person it can be a compliment.

Notice that these adjectives are most often used with the verb be (He is stubborn) and sometimes with verbs like seem or become (She seems reliable today). In this lesson, we will mainly use them after 'has been' — for example, 'He has always been patient.'

To remember these words, try to connect each one to a real person you know. Think: Who in my life is most punctual? Who is most stubborn? This personal connection will help you recall the words faster when you speak.

الموضوع النهاردة عن صفات الشخصية اللي بنستخدمها لما نحكي عن حد أو سلوكه المعتاد. دي صفات بتشوفها في الشخص على طول، مش حاجة عملها مرة واحدة وخلاص.

إزاي بتتكوّن الجملة؟

أغلب الصفات دي بتيجي بعد فعل be، زي:

My boss is very punctual. يعني مديري دايماً بيوصل في ميعاده.
She is the most reliable person I know. يعني هي أكتر حد ينفع تعتمد عليه.

كمان بتتكوّن مع seem أو become:

He seems moody today. باين عليه متقلب النهاردة.
She has become more patient. هي بقيت أكثر صبراً.

الربط مع has been

في الدرس ده إحنا بنستخدمهم كتير مع has been عشان نتكلم عن حاجة الشخص بيفضل يعملها من زمان لحد دلوقتي. مثال مهم من الدرس: My grandmother has always been patient and generous with us. يعني ستّي من زمان وهي صبورة وكريمة معانا.

صفات إيجابية ولا سلبية؟

بعضها معناه حلو:

punctual — ملتزم بمواعيده
reliable — ينفع تعتمد عليه
patient — صبور
generous — كريم
tidy — مرتب ومنظّم

والباقي محايد أو معناه مش حلو:

chatty — بيحب يتكلم كتير (ممكن تبقا مدح لو حد طيب)
moody — مزاجه بيتقلب بسرعة
stubborn — عنيد ومش بيغيّر رأيه

نصيحة للحفظ

علشان تفكّر أي صفة بسهولة، اربطها بشخص حقيقي تعرفه. مين في حياتك أكتر واحد punctual؟ مين أكتر واحد stubborn؟ لما تربطها بحد من حياتك، هتطلعها أسرع وأنت بتتكلم.

Eight common character adjectives for describing how people usually behave. Read each word, then continue to the next step.

chatty ˈtʃæti
Fond of talking; inclined to chat; informal and friendly in manner.
generous ˈdʒenərəs
Willing to give more than necessary or expected; unselfish in sharing money, time, or resources with others.
moody ˈmuːdi
Prone to frequent and unpredictable changes of mood; inclined to be gloomy, sullen, or bad-tempered.
patient ˈpeɪʃənt
able to wait calmly without becoming annoyed or anxious, even in difficult situations
punctual ˈpʌŋktʃuəl
Arriving or doing something at the expected or agreed time; not late.
reliable rɪˈlaɪəbəl
Trustworthy and able to be depended upon to do what is expected or required.
stubborn ˈstʌbən
Refusing to change one's opinion or course of action, even when people try to persuade you otherwise.
tidy ˈtaɪdi
Tidy means neat and organized, with everything in its proper place. It describes a person, place, or thing tha