Late Again!
In this lesson, students practice Present Simple information questions through a natural conversation about being late. Learners listen to Ritaj and Kiara discussing morning routines, bus times, and daily habits, and answer questions using what, when, where, why, and how. This lesson helps improve listening, speaking, and comprehension skills in everyday situations.
Listen to the audio and answer the questions in the quiz below.
Late Again!
Ritaj: Kiara, you’re late again.
Kiara: I’m sorry, Ritaj. It’s the alarm clock again.
Ritaj: What is wrong with your alarm?
Kiara: Sometimes I turn it off by mistake.
Ritaj: What time do you usually get up?
Kiara: I usually get up at six o’clock.
Ritaj: What do you usually do when you wake up?
Kiara: When I wake up, I wash my face, brush my teeth, have breakfast, get dressed, and leave the house.
Ritaj: What time do you usually take the bus?
Kiara: I take the bus at 7:30.
Ritaj: How long does the trip take?
Kiara: It takes about one hour.
Ritaj: Do you always take the bus?
Kiara: Sometimes I take a taxi if I’m late.
Ritaj: How often are you late?
Kiara: I’m late about three times a week.
Ritaj: Where do you usually wait for the bus?
Kiara: I usually wait at the bus stop near my house.
Ritaj: Why do you think you are often late?
Kiara: I know, I know… I’m sorry. I lose track of time. I’m a bit disorganized, I guess.
Ritaj: Do you understand why I get frustrated?
Kiara: Yes, I do. I’ll try to wake up earlier tomorrow.
✅ Vocabulary:
Alarm clock – A device that wakes you up at a set time.
Disorganized – Not planned or arranged; messy with time or tasks.
Habit – Something you do regularly or repeatedly.
Trip – A journey from one place to another.
Responsibilities – Tasks or duties you have to do.
Frustrated – Feeling upset or annoyed because of a problem.
Track of time – Awareness of how much time has passed.
Routine – A regular sequence of activities.
Occasionally / Sometimes – Not always; happening now and then.
Consequence – The result or effect of an action.
✅ Useful Sentences from the Conversation:
Purpose: Apologizing / Explaining Being Late
- I’m sorry, it’s the alarm clock again.
- I know, I know… I’m sorry. I lose track of time. I’m a bit disorganized, I guess.
- I’ll try to wake up earlier tomorrow.
Purpose: Talking About Morning Routines / Habits
- I usually get up at six o’clock.
- When I wake up, I wash my face, brush my teeth, have breakfast, get dressed, and leave the house.
- I usually wait at the bus stop near my house.
Purpose: Talking About Travel / Commute
- I take the bus at 7:30.
- The trip takes about one hour.
- Sometimes I take a taxi if I’m late.
Purpose: Asking Questions / Getting Information
- What do you usually do when you wake up?
- How long does the trip take?
- Why do you think you are often late?
- Do you understand why I get frustrated?
Purpose: Expressing Frequency / Habit
- I’m late about three times a week.
Grammar Summary – Present Simple: Information Questions
1. Structure of Information Questions
Use a Wh- question word (what, when, where, why, how, how long, how often) + do/does + subject + base verb.
Examples from the lesson:
What time do you usually get up?
Where do you usually wait for the bus?
How long does the trip take?
Why do you think you are often late?
2. Answering Information Questions
Use full sentences with the subject + verb.
Time, frequency, and routines are usually in Present Simple.
For today’s events, Past Simple may be used naturally.
Examples:
I usually get up at six o’clock.
I wash my face, brush my teeth, have breakfast, and get dressed.
I take the bus at 7:30.
I’m late about three times a week.
3. Key Points
Use Present Simple for habits, routines, and repeated actions.
Wh- questions always ask for specific information: who, what, when, where, why, how, how long, how often.
Yes/No questions use Do/Does, but in this lesson, focus is on Wh- questions.