In the following two videos, you will learn how to talk about your daily routine by observing Bob’s routine.
Bob will take you along with him for part of his day and explain everything he does using clear and easy-to-understand English. As you watch, you will be exposed to natural vocabulary, useful expressions, and common sentence patterns that native speakers use when talking about their everyday activities.
Build a Vocabulary Log
Build a vocabulary log as you watch the videos. Write down new words, phrases, phrasal verbs, collocations, and useful expressions.
Before You Watch
Think about your own daily routine and answer these questions:
What time do you usually wake up?
What is the first thing you do in the morning?
Do you work, study, or both?
What do you usually do in the evening?
What time do you normally go to bed?
Video 1
Comprehension Questions
What time does Bob start his day?
What is the first thing he does?
What activities does he do before work?
What does he do during the day?
What new words or expressions did you learn?
Video 2
While Watching
Continue taking notes and observe:
Additional daily activities
Useful expressions
Repeated vocabulary
Differences between your routine and Bob’s routine
Comprehension Questions
What activities does Bob mention in this video?
Which activities are similar to your routine?
Which activities are different from your routine?
Which phrasal verbs did you hear?
Which collocations did you hear?
Speaking Practice
Answer the questions in complete sentences.
What time do you usually get up?
What do you do after you wake up?
What do you usually have for breakfast?
What do you do during the day?
What do you do after work or school?
What do you usually do in the evening?
What time do you go to bed?
Writing Practice
Write a paragraph (80–120 words) describing your daily routine.
Use:
Present Simple
Time expressions (first, then, after that, later, finally)
Evening is the period when the sky starts getting dark, usually between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM.
People are generally still awake, working, studying, eating dinner, or socializing during the evening.
Night
Night is the period when it is dark and people are generally relaxing or sleeping.
Night usually begins later in the evening and continues until the early morning hours.
Good Evening
Use “Good evening” to say hello after approximately 6:00 PM.
It is commonly used:
at restaurants;
in professional situations;
in formal conversations;
in speeches and presentations.
Examples
“Good evening, do you have a reservation?” (at a restaurant)
“Good evening, Tom. How are you?” (to a colleague)
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen…” (in a speech)
Important
In general, “good evening” sounds a little more formal.
Friends do not usually say “good evening” to each other. They are more likely to say:
“Hi”
“Hello”
“What’s up?”
“Hey”
Good Night
Use “Good night” to say goodbye, especially:
when leaving to go home;
when ending a conversation late at night;
before going to bed.
Family members commonly say “good night” before sleeping.
Examples
“Good night, Janet. See you tomorrow.”
“Good night, mom. I’m going to bed.”
Important Difference
Expression
Function
Meaning
Good evening
Greeting
“Olá / Boa noite”
Good night
Farewell
“Tchau / Boa noite”
Simple Rule:
Good evening = hello
Good night = goodbye
Authentic Examples
Opening of a Television Program (Greeting)
“Hello, good evening and welcome: The David Frost story. Sir David Frost is famous the world over for his interviews with presidents and prime ministers, but his journalistic side is just one part of his repertoire.” (BBC)
Translation:
“Olá, boa noite e sejam bem-vindos: A história de David Frost. Sir David Frost é internacionalmente conhecido por suas entrevistas com presidentes e primeiros-ministros, mas o jornalismo é apenas uma de suas várias facetas.”
In this example, good evening is used to welcome the audience at the beginning of the program.
End of a Television Program (Farewell)
“Thank you so much to all of our guests, to you at home for being with us. We’ll see you tomorrow night, 8:00 sharp Eastern. Good night, everybody.” (CNN)
Translation:
“Agradeço aos convidados pela presença e a vocês em casa pela audiência. Até amanhã às 20h em ponto (no horário da costa leste). Boa noite a todos.”
In this example, good night is used to say goodbye at the end of the program.
Practice
Complete with “good evening” or “good night”
____________, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to our event.
I’m going to bed now. ____________!
____________, sir. Do you have a reservation?
See you tomorrow. ____________!
____________, everyone, and welcome to the show.
Extra Tip
Many Brazilian students translate both expressions simply as “boa noite”, but in English the situation is important:
These four verbs often confuse learners because they are all related to communication. However, they are not interchangeable. This lesson will help you understand the differences clearly and use each verb with confidence.
1️⃣ TELL
Meaning: to give information to someone
Structure
Tell + person + (what was said) ⚠️ NO “to” before the person
Examples
I told Marcos the truth.
She told me about the trip.
He told her to check it out.
❌ I told to Marcos.
👉 Tell already includes the idea of “to someone”.
2️⃣ SAY
Meaning: to express words / focus on the message
Structure
Say + something
Say + something + TO + someone
Examples
She said hello.
He said hello to Marcos.
I said I was tired.
❌ I said Marcos.
👉 If you mention the person, you need to.
3️⃣ TALK
Meaning: to have a conversation (interaction)
Structure
Talk + TO + someone
Examples
I talked to Marcos yesterday.
We talked about work.
❌ I talked Marcos.
👉 Talk focuses on interaction, not the message itself.
4️⃣ SPEAK
Meaning: to talk in a more formal way
Commonly used for:
Languages
Formal situations
Structure
Speak + a language
Speak + TO + someone
Examples
I speak English.
She spoke to the manager.
Quick Comparison
Verb
Structure
Tell
tell someone (NO to)
Say
say something (to someone)
Talk
talk to someone
Speak
speak to someone / a language
Exercises
Exercise 1 — Choose the correct verb
Complete the sentences with tell, say, talk, or speak.
I need to ______ you something important.
She didn’t ______ anything to me.
We talked and ______ about our plans.
He ______ to his boss this morning.
Can you ______ English?
Exercise 2 — Correct the sentences
Find and correct the mistake.
I told to her the truth.
He said me the answer.
She talked her yesterday.
I speak to English at work.
Exercise 3 — Make the sentences correct
I told ______ to check it out.
She said it ______ Marcos.
They talked ______ their trip.
He speaks ______ Spanish and French.
🗝️ Answer Key
Exercise 1
tell
say
talked
spoke
speak
Exercise 2
I told her the truth.
He told me the answer / He said the answer to me.
She talkedto her yesterday.
I speak English at work.
Exercise 3
you / him / her / them
to
about
— (no preposition)
More Practice
Exercise 4 — Choose the best option
Choose the correct verb.
She didn’t ______ a word during the meeting.
I need to ______ to you about something important.
He ______ me he would be late.
Can you ______ a little louder, please?
They were ______ about their vacation.
Exercise 5 — Tell or Say?
Choose tell or say and make the sentence correct.
She ______ me the truth.
He ______ it to his parents.
Don’t ______ anyone about this.
What did she ______?
Exercise 6 — Rewrite using the verb in brackets
Rewrite the sentence using the verb in parentheses.
I said to her, “Don’t worry.” (tell)
He spoke to the teacher yesterday. (talk)
She said hello to me. (tell)
They talked to the manager. (speak)
Exercise 7 — Real-life use
Complete the sentences so they sound natural.
I need to ______ my kids to slow down.
She didn’t ______ goodbye.
We need to ______ to the doctor.
He ______ three languages.
🗝️ Answer Key
Exercise 4
say
talk
told
speak
talking
Exercise 5
told
said
tell
say
Exercise 6
I told her not to worry.
He talked to the teacher yesterday.
She told me hello.
They spoke to the manager.
Exercise 7
tell
say
talk / speak
speaks
Teacher’s Note — SAY vs TELL (Important)
Although the structure say + something + to someone is correct, the type of something matters.
✔ SAY sounds natural with:
short words or expressions (hello, sorry, goodbye)
direct speech (words in quotes)
Examples:
I said hello to my mom.
I said, “Relax,” to my mom.
⚠️ With long ideas or instructions, SAY + that + clause + to someone is grammatically possible, but not natural for beginners or everyday speech.
❌ I said that we should relax to my mom. (heavy / unnatural)
👉 In these cases, TELL is preferred:
I told my mom to relax.
I told her that we should relax.
📌 Teaching tip: use SAY for words and TELL for ideas.
👉 Extra Practice
Exercise 1 – Choose SAY or TELL
Complete with say or tell (use the correct tense):
She ______ she was tired.
He ______ me the truth.
What did you ______ to your teacher?
I ______ my mom I would be late.
They ______ “Stop!” very loudly.
Can you ______ me your name again?
Exercise 2 – Fix the sentence (common mistakes)
Corrija as frases:
❌ I said my friend the news.
❌ She told “hello” to me.
❌ He said to me that he was busy.
❌ I said that to my mom.
Exercise 3 – Complete with say (focus only on say)
Complete the sentences using say / said:
Please ______ something.
She ______ “thank you” and left.
What did he ______ about the test?
Don’t ______ that again.
I never ______ that!
🗝️ Answer Key
Exercise 1
said
told
say
told
said
tell
Exercise 2
I told my friend the news.
She said “hello” to me.
He told me that he was busy.
I said that. / I told my mom that.
Exercise 3
say
said
say
say
said
✨ Tip for learners:
If you’re unsure, ask yourself:
