964 - Talking About Habits in English - Always, Tend To, Keep ing, Used To

964 - Talking About Habits in English - Always, Tend To, Keep ing, Used To

Author: Michael DiGiacomo Happy English January 5, 2026 Duration: 8:01
Do you have this problem? When you talk about habits in English, you might use the same grammar again and again?  Things like, “I eat breakfast at 7,” or “I go to bed late,” or “I work on Saturdays.” Those sentences are correct - no problem there. But if you always talk about habits that way, your English can start to sound a little flat or mechanical. The good news is, native speakers actually use several different expressions to talk about habits, depending on how strong the habit is, how they feel about it, or whether it’s something now or from the past. 

Today, we’re going to look at four very common and very natural ways native speakers talk about habits in everyday conversation. And as we go, I’ll show you how each one sounds a little different, even though they’re all talking about repeated actions. Let’s dive in.

Do you want to learn more phrasal verbs? My new 8-week course Speak Naturally with Phrasal Verbs starts January 8. 2026. Join us here: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/snpv
Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts
Build Vocabulary With My Free Vocabulary Workshop: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/vocabulary-workshop-signup


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Build your vocabulary with my free Vocabulary Workshop
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/vocabulary-workshop-signup

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Ever feel like you're missing a piece of the puzzle when you hear native English speakers chat? That's where Happy English Podcast comes in, hosted by Michael DiGiacomo. This isn't about dry textbook rules; it's about the living, breathing language you actually encounter. Each episode feels like a friendly conversation, breaking down the nuances that can trip you up. You'll find yourself understanding the subtle differences between confusing words, getting a handle on those tricky phrasal verbs that seem to change meaning constantly, and even picking up the rhythm and pronunciation of everyday American English. The focus is always on practical use, whether it's mastering common idioms that add color to your speech or clarifying grammar points in a way that sticks. Designed for learners at any stage, the podcast turns complicated topics into manageable, even enjoyable, lessons. The goal is to build your confidence so you can express yourself more naturally and understand more of the world around you. Tune in and discover how approachable learning a language can be, one clear and helpful episode at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Happy English Podcast
Podcast Episodes
1017 - Spring Idioms for Everyday English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:33
Have you ever noticed how spring feels like a fresh start? The weather gets warmer, the days get longer, and suddenly you feel like doing something new. Maybe you want to start exercising, clean your house, or even chang…
1016 -  Did you → Didjya Speak Naturally in a Minute | Happy English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:04
Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.Today,…
1015 - Here’s the Thing – English Tips in a Minute | Happy English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Saturday with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently.Today, let’s look…
1014 - Phrasal Verbs for Social Situations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:18
Have you ever made plans with a friend and they said something like, “Let’s hang out this weekend”… or maybe someone told you, “Just drop by anytime”… or you hear people say, “Let’s catch up soon”… These are all very com…
1013 - Practical Uses of “Actually” in Everyday English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:40
Have you ever noticed how people use the word actually in conversation? It’s one of those small words that shows up all the time, but it doesn’t always mean the same thing. Sometimes it’s used to correct someone. Sometim…
1012 - Practical Uses of “Just” in Everyday English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:02
Have you ever noticed how often native speakers use the word just? It’s a small word, but it shows up everywhere in everyday conversation. Like, “I just finished lunch.” Or, “I was just asking...” Or maybe, “I just think…
1011 - TO Sounds Like TUH [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45
Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.Today,…
1010 - Fair Enough – English Tips in a Minute | Happy English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59
Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every week with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently. Today, let’s look at…
1009 - Phrasal Verbs Related to Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:58
Have you ever been in a meeting that felt like it would never end? You keep looking at the clock and thinking… “Is this meeting ever going to finish?” But then there are other times when the opposite happens. Maybe you’r…