Expressing Habits and Annoying Behaviour

• In English, we can talk about repeated actions and frustrating habits using specific structures. While 'will' and 'would' describe typical behaviour, continuous forms emphasise irritation.
• Structure
• Function
• Example
• will + infinitive
• Persistent habits in the present
• He will leave dishes in the sink.
• would + infinitive
• Typical past habits and routines
• Whenever we lived in Seattle, she would blast music.
• be always + -ing
• Annoying or repeated present actions
• You are always hogging the bathroom!
• keep (on) + -ing
• Continuous irritating repetition
• Tyler keeps on eating my food without asking.
• Remember
• Use 'will' for annoying habits that happen repeatedly in the present.
• Use 'would' for past habits, but avoid it with stative verbs.
• Use 'be always + -ing' to express annoyance about frequent actions.
• Use 'keep' or 'keep on' followed by an -ing verb to show persistent annoying behaviour.
• Examples
• My new flatmate will bring people over late at night.
• Back in Chicago, we would share a flat and argue about the rota.
• Mark is always borrowing my clothes without asking.
• She keeps on leaving passive-aggressive notes on the fridge door.
• Common mistakes
• She always leaves my things in the sink.
• She is always leaving my things in the sink.
• He would to hog the bathroom every single morning.
• He would hog the bathroom every single morning.

Complete the sentences

• Why (you / always / leave) ____ the communal kitchen in a mess?
• My roommate in Boston (will) ____ constantly blast music late at night.
• When we lived in Austin, she (would) ____ eat my food without asking.
• Ethan (keep / on / use) ____ my expensive shampoo.
• Chloe (always / forget) ____ to pay her share of the electricity bill.
• Whenever I cooked dinner, he (would) ____ always complain about the taste.

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