Unit 4 Open questions - How often

Activity 1: Language focus - definite adverbs of time

Work alone or with a partner to state the term that describes the weekly frequency. Move your cursor over the number to see the answer.

• one ( once a week )
• two ( twice a week )
• three ( three times a week )
• four ( four times a week )
• seven ( every day )

Ask and answer questions about drinking. Use the above adverbs of time. For example, How often do you drink instant coffee? How often do you drink latte?

Activity 2: Language focus - indefinite adverbs of time

State the order of the following adverbs of frequency. Begin with the most frequent term.

Identify adverbs of frequency that have (almost) the same meaning.

Ask and answer questions about breakfast. Use the above adverbs of time. For example, How often do you skip breakfast? How often do you make breakfast?

Activity 3: Shadowing practice

Listen to these questions and answers. Then say them at the same time and in the same way as your tutor.

1. How often do you play computer games?
   Every day. I always play games with my brother.
2. How often do you drink beer?
   I never drink beer. I am too young to drink.
3. How often do you study English?
   Hardly ever. That is why I speak slowly.
4. How often do you?
   answer.

Work in pairs. One person asks questions. One person answers. Afterwards, change roles. Feel free to change the adverbs of frequency.

Activity 4: Further practice

Practise in pairs. Ask four questions "How often do you...?" using the following prompts.

1. drink
   tea, green tea, Pepsi, whisky, orange juice
2. make
   dinner, your bed, a cake, a mistake
3. do
   the shopping, the washing up, the ironing
4. get
   angry, bored, sick

When you have finished. Change roles. Repeat. Ask follow-up questions if you want to.

Activity 5: Pronunciation focus - Intonation

Read this explanation about the word often.

When people speak quickly, they sometimes simplify or shorten words to make them easier and faster to say. In the case of often, the t sound is frequently dropped, so it sounds more like ofen instead of the full pronunciation of-ten This is typical for natural casual, fast-paced speech. It's a way our speech becomes more efficient and comfortable in everyday conversation.

Activity 6: Showing interest

Read.

One excellent way to show interest is to ask questions. The questions must be connected to the current conversation or situation. Here are some examples of questions that show interest and are appropriate.

1. I feel tired. Oh, did you sleep badly?
2. That is my boss. Oh, is she kind?
3. She looks angry. I think she noticed my mistake. Oh, what did you do?

Work in pairs. One person say any sentence. The other person tries to ask a question that is connected to the sentence..

Activity 7: Common errors

Work alone or with a partner. Identify and correct the errors below:

Ask your tutor to explain any errors you are unsure about.