Free worksheet
Try the quiz
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Are you the kind of person who plans a trip last minute? Or do you prefer to build a spreadsheet months in advance? Pippa and Phil talk about what they tend to do when they're planning a trip, and our grammar guru Georgie explains how to use the phrase 'tend to' and modal verbs 'will' and 'might' to talk about usual behaviour.
_____________
Grammar explanation
'will' to talk about typical behaviour
Use 'will' + a base verb to talk about your tendencies. You can add adverbs of frequency like 'usually' and 'often', as you would with the present simple.
Examples:
I'll usually book flights last minute.
My daughter loves books. She'llspend hours reading every day.
'might' to talk about typical behaviour
Use 'might' + a base verb to talk about your tendencies.
Examples:
My typical evening? Well, I might practise the guitar, I might watch some TV. I just like to relax usually.
My usual commute? I might take the Tube or I might get on the bus - it depends on the day, really.
'tend to' to talk about typical behaviour
Use 'tend to' + a base verb to talk about your tendencies.
Examples:
When I go on holiday, I tend to book all the activities months before.
My sister tends to lose her belongings.
be the type/kind of person
Use 'be the type/kind of person' + infinitive with 'to'/who + present simple to talk about your character traits.
Examples:
I'm the type of person who packs the night before a trip.
I'm the type of person to pack the night before a trip.
To do
Test yourself using the quiz.
NEXT
Watch Tenses with Georgie.
Try some of our other grammar programmes.
Explore our topic pages.
Latest Learning English Grammar
Predicting the future
Episode 251007 / 07 Oct 2025
What's the difference between 'will' and 'going to'?
Hobbies we enjoy doing
Episode 250930 / 30 Sep 2025
Do you 'learn to play' or 'learn playing' a musical instrument?
Things we collect
Episode 250923 / 23 Sep 2025
What's the difference between 'loads of' and 'lots of'?
Regrets
Episode 250916 / 16 Sep 2025
Learn to talk about your regrets using wish, the third conditional and more
Reminiscing
Episode 250909 / 01 Aug 2025
Learn how to use would, used to and the past simple to talk about your memories
Preferences
Episode 250902 / 02 Sep 2025
What's the difference between prefer, would prefer and would rather?
To-do lists
Episode 250826 / 26 Aug 2025
What's the difference between 'need to do' and 'needs doing'?
