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4.1. Humans are creatures of routine

Dictionary

Alien

Imagen de un extraterrestre con el cielo de fondo
Definition:

An extraterrestrial.

Extraterrestre.

Example:

My mother thinks aliens exist.

Mi madre cree que los extraterrestres existen.

Spanish word:

Extraterrestre

Audio:

Civilization

Imagen de Machu Picchu
Definition:

Knowledge, art and traditions that define people in society.

Conocimientos, arte y costumbres que definen una sociedad.

Example:

Greek civilization invented democracy.

La civilización griega inventó la democracia.

Spanish word:

Civilización

Audio:

Nap

Pictograma de una mujer dormida en un sofá con el sol de fondo
Definition:

A short sleep taken during the day.

Sueño corto y diurno.

Example:

I always take a nap after lunch.

Siempre me echo una siesta después de almorzar.

Spanish word:

Siesta

Audio:

1. Getting to know humans

RETOR dice...To start writing messages to other civilizations, you need to know how to express human routines and general aspects of the Earth.

So, let’s learn what verb tense to use for that purpose.



Imagen de Machu Picchu

Definition:

Knowledge, art and traditions that define people in society.

Conocimientos, arte y costumbres que definen una sociedad.

Example:

Greek civilization invented democracy.

La civilización griega inventó la democracia.

.

Easier to read

Read

A la izquierda una mano con un lápiz escribiendo, en el centro un sobre cerrado y a la derecha un extraterrestre.You have to write a message to another civilization.

Tienes que escribir un mensaje a otra civilización.

A la izquierda una mano con un lápiz escribiendo y a la derecha una mano con el pulgar hacia arribaYou have to write well.

Tienes que escribir bien.

A la izquierda hay una mano con un lápiz escribiendo unas letras. A la derecha hay un horario con unas actividadesYou have to write down human routines.

Tienes que escribir las rutinas humanas.

Tabla con horario semanalA routine is something that is repeated every day.

Una rutina es algo que se repite todos los días.

Arriba hay una mano con un lápiz escribiendo unas letras.Debajo a la izquierda hay un círculo rojo sobre un escenario entre signos de admiración y a la derecha el planeta TierraYou have to write the best of Earth.

Tienes que escribir lo mejor de la Tierra.

Sobre la cabeza de una persona hay dos tableros, uno con letras y otro con números. Dos flechas van desde los tableros hasta la cabezaYou are going to learn a verb tense to write better.

Vas a aprender un tiempo verbal para escribir mejor.

Present simple

GRAMMAR CHART

Affirmative

I
We
You
They

play tennis.

He

She

plays tennis.
Negative
I
We
You
They
don’t play tennis.

He

She

doesn’t play tennis.
Interrogative
Do

I

we

you

they

play tennis?
Does

He

she

play tennis?

Video

Click here to download or read the subtitles of this video

Present simple: use and form

  • Present simple:
    • Use
    • Form
  • Use:
    1. We use to present simple to talk about general truths. Example: The sun gives light to the Earth.
    2. We use the present simple to express routines. Example: Teachers and students go to school from Monday to Friday.
  • Form:
  • Present simple - affirmative
    • To make affirmative sentences we write the base form of the verb. For the third person singular (he/she/it) we write: base form + -s. Example: write – she writes.
    • 3rd person singular (he/she/it) spelling rules.
      • Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -o add -es, not -s. Example: watch – he watches.
      • For verbs ending in consonant + y, y becomes ie before -s. Example: study – she studies.
  • Present simple - negative:
    • To make negative sentences we write: don’t + base form. For the third person singular (he/she/it) we write: doesn’t + base form.
    • Examples:
      • I don’t live on Mars.
      • He/she doesn’t live on Venus.
      • We don’t live on Pluto.
      • You don’t live on Mercury.
      • You don’t live on Jupiter.
  • Present simple - interrogative:
    • To make interrogative sentences we write: do + subject + base form. For the third person singular (he/she/it) we write: does + subject + base form.
    • Examples:
      • Does he/she live on Saturn?
      • Do you live on Saturn?
      • Do we live on Uranus?
      • Do they live on Jupiter?

2. Routines matter

RETOR dice...Now, it’s time to put into practice what we learnt about the present simple tense.

So this is why we are going to express and ask for human routines.

.

Easier to read

Read

Un reloj marca las doce en punto. Fuera hay un círculo rojo alrededor del relojYou learned the simple present tense.

Aprendiste el tiempo presente simple.

You are going to practice it.

Vas a practicarlo.

A la izquierda se puede ver una persona hablándole a otra con un bocadillo de diálogo sobre su cabeza. A la derecha se puede ver un horario con distintas actividades en cada horaExpress human routines.

Expresa rutinas humanas.

A la izquierda hay una mano intentando alcanzar un objeto. A la derecha un horario con diferentes actividades en cada horaAsk for human routines.

Pregunta por rutinas humanas.

Option A: Dictation

Option B: Say true or false

Watch the video. Then decide whether the sentences are true or false.

Click here to download or read the subtitles of this video

Question 1

1.  Laura and David talk about life on Earth.

Hint

Think carefully!

Question 2

2. David believes in life outside the Earth.

Hint

Think carefully!

Question 3

3. According to David, aliens don’t go to school.

Imagen de un extraterrestre con el cielo de fondo

Definition:

An extraterrestrial.

Extraterrestre.

Example:

My mother thinks aliens exist.

Mi madre cree que los extraterrestres existen.

Hint

Think carefully!

Question 4

4. According to David, aliens don’t see us.

Hint

Think carefully!

Question 5

5. David says aliens use smartphones to communicate.

Hint

Think carefully!

Question 6

6. David thinks aliens live in rural areas.

Hint

Think carefully!

Question 7

7. David says aliens sleep at night.

Hint

Think carefully!

Option C: Read, choose and listen

Question

Read the sentences and choose the correct form of the verbs. Notice that there are spelling mistakes. Choose one answer per sentence. Then listen to the correct answers.

1. Peter_____ for a walk in the park.

Answers

gos

goes

go

Feedback

Question

2. I _______ a good breakfast at home.

Answers

don’t eat

doesn’t eat

don’t eats

Feedback

Question

3. Does your father ______ a nap in the summer months?

Pictograma de una mujer dormida en un sofá con el sol de fondo
Definition:

A short sleep taken during the day.

Sueño corto y diurno.

Example:

I always take a nap after lunch.

Siempre me echo una siesta después de almorzar.

Answers

take

taks

takes

Feedback

Question

4. _______ your sister work out in the morning?

Answers

do

does

dos

Feedback

Question

5. Students______ daily at school.

Answers

don’t meditate

doesn’t meditates

don’t meditates

Feedback

Question

6. Do people ______ doctors when they are ill?

Answers

visits

visites

visit

Feedback

Question

7. My brother ______ his clothes in the washing machine.

Answers

wash

washes

washs

Feedback

Question

8. My friend ______ time on hobbies.

Answers

don’t spend

doesn’t spend

don’t spendes

Feedback

Question

9. A pilot ______ a plane or a helicopter.

Answers

fly

flyes

flies

Feedback

Option D: Questions puzzle

Cut out both the puzzle pieces and the words. Then place the words on the corresponding pieces. Finally, arrange the puzzle pieces in order to form present simple questions. You can also flip and colour the pieces in a different way.

Click here to download the worksheet.

Questions puzzle

Wow, you know a lot about verbs

Keep it up!