1B Annoying habits

1 2

A Look at the pictures. In pairs, use will, would, used to and the correct tense to talk about bad habits James had when
he was a child and bad habits he has now. (Some habits haven’t changed!)
Example: He’s better now but a couple of years ago he was continually leaving wet towels all over the bathroom floor.

B Tell your partner about anyone you know who does / did any of the annoying things below (1–11). Use the same
structures you used in A.
Example: There was a boy in my class who would always crack his knuckles and I could have ignored it but he was always sitting
next to me when he did it. I’m sure he knew I hated it.
Example: My sister is always leaving her bedroom light on when she isn’t in there. I keep telling her she should be more
eco-friendly but she doesn’t listen to me.
1 Cracking your knuckles
2 Drumming your fingers on the table
3 Borrowing things without asking
4 Flicking through TV channels
5 Telling you to do something when you are just about to do it
6 Whistling tunelessly
7 Rolling your eyes in annoyance
8 Being late for every appointment
9 Making loud noises when eating or drinking
10 Interrupting you when you’re speaking
11 Not turning off the lights when you go out

Solutions 2nd edition  Advanced classroom activity © Oxford University Press • Photocopiable
 1B Annoying habits

Aims  To review and practise present perfect simple and

structures for expressing disapproval
Time  15 minutes
Materials  1 set of pictures for each pair of students
• Divide the class into A/B pairs. Give each pair a copy of the
handout and tell them to read the grammar and the example,
then do task A together. Circulate and check students’ answers
before continuing.
Suggested answers
1 a He was always asking for more and more toys. b He would
often pull other children’s hair. c He would never share d He
was forever refusing food.
2 a He was continually biting his nails. b He would always listen
to his music at full volume . c He was always leaving wet towels
on the bathroom floor.
3 a He will still refuse food. b He is always reading other people’s
magazines over their shoulders. c He is continually asking his
parents for money. d He will still listen to loud music.
• Ask students to read the instructions and examples, then do
task B in pairs.
• Invite two or three students to report on their discussion.

Solutions 2nd edition  Advanced classroom activity © Oxford University Press • Photocopiable