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1 Concept
Habits That Annoy Someone
📘 Module 2 — Present Continuous — Lesson 5 of 7

Imagine a woman complains to a friend: "She is always asking me about my love life." This probably doesn't mean the other person asks about it every single time they meet. Maybe she has asked two or three times. But the speaker is annoyed, so she exaggerates on purpose — "always" here isn't a real count, it's a way of showing how she feels.

The idea:

When someone complains about another person's behavior, they often exaggerate on purpose. Use "am / is / are" + "always" or "constantly" + verb-ing to make this kind of complaint.
Watch out: this is different from the project in progress in Lesson 17 (there's no task with an end point here) and different from the temporary habit in Lesson 19 (there's no complaint there, just a normal substitute). This pattern exists only when someone is complaining about another person's behavior, using exaggeration to show they're annoyed.
Quick recap of the form: subject + am / is / are + always / constantly + verb-ing. He is always losing his keys. She is constantly forgetting her umbrella.
2 Annoying Habits
Examples of Annoying Habits

Each of these is something you might say when complaining to a friend about someone else's behavior.

Complaints About Someone's Behavior
  • She is always asking me about my love life.
  • My sister is always wearing my clothes without asking.
  • My coworker is constantly complaining about everything.
  • He is always calling me at the worst possible time.
  • She is constantly forgetting my birthday.
In these sentences, "always" and "constantly" are not an exact count. The person probably doesn't do this every single time — the speaker is exaggerating on purpose to show they are annoyed.

These are the two words that signal this use:

always constantly
3 Correct Use
This Use in Everyday Sentences

Read each sentence as something said about a person who isn't in the room — a complaint made to someone else.

  • She is always talking during the movie.
  • He is constantly arriving late to everything.
  • They are always leaving dirty dishes in the sink.
  • She is constantly eating my snacks without asking.
  • He is always spending too much time in the bathroom.
Quick test: is the speaker complaining about someone's behavior, using "always" or "constantly" to show they're annoyed — not to give an exact count? If yes, this use applies.
4 Common Mistake
Always or Constantly Is Required

Without "always" or "constantly," this pattern loses its meaning. The Present Continuous alone just sounds like something happening right now (Lesson 16) — it doesn't sound like a complaint about a repeated behavior.

✗ He is calling me late at night.
✓ He is always calling me late at night. Why: without "always," this just sounds like it's happening right now, not a complaint about his behavior in general.
✗ He is leaving his dirty socks on the couch.
✓ He is constantly leaving his dirty socks on the couch. Why: "constantly" is what turns this into a complaint — without it, it just describes one time.
✗ My roommate is forgetting to buy groceries.
✓ My roommate is always forgetting to buy groceries. Why: "always" signals this is a repeated, annoying pattern, not a single event.
5 Practice
Try It Yourself
Exercise A — A Complaint, or Just Happening Right Now?

Click "Complaint" or "Right Now" for each sentence.

  • 1
    She is always asking me about my love life.
    ✓ Correct — "always" shows this is a complaint, not something happening right now.
  • 2
    Look! She is closing the window.
    ✓ Correct — no "always" or "constantly," so this is just one time, not a complaint.
  • 3
    My sister is constantly wearing my clothes without asking.
    ✓ Correct — "constantly" shows this is a complaint about her behavior in general.
  • 4
    He is always losing the TV remote.
    ✓ Correct — this reads as a complaint about a repeated inconvenience.
  • 5
    She is talking to her sister on the phone right now.
    ✓ Correct — "right now" tells you it is happening now, with no complaint intended.
  • 6
    Look! The kids are playing in the yard.
    ✓ Correct — "Look!" points to right now, with no complaint intended.
  • 7
    They are constantly arguing about small things.
    ✓ Correct — this reads as a complaint about a repeated pattern.
  • 8
    He is calling his mother right now.
    ✓ Correct — no "always" or "constantly" here, just one call happening now.
Exercise B — Type the Correct Form

Type the correct Present Continuous verb phrase, including "always" or "constantly."

  • 1
    He his wet towel on the floor. (always / leave)
  • 2
    She about the weather. (constantly / complain)
  • 3
    The neighbor's dog over the trash cans. (always / knock)
  • 4
    They their plans at the last minute. (constantly / change)
  • 5
    He his promises. (always / break)
  • 6
    She over other people. (constantly / talk)
  • 7
    My brother the car keys. (always / forget)
  • 8
    He near the front door. (constantly / smoke)
Exercise C — Correct or Incorrect?

Each sentence is meant as a complaint. Click whether it's missing the word it needs.

  • 1
    He is forgetting to lock the door, and it worries me.
    ✓ Correct — this is wrong. Without "always," it just sounds like right now: "He is always forgetting to lock the door."
  • 2
    They are always leaving the lights on, and it wastes electricity.
    ✓ Correct — "always" makes this a genuine complaint.
  • 3
    My sister is constantly playing her music too loud, and I can't concentrate.
    ✓ Correct — "constantly" makes this a genuine complaint.
  • 4
    My coworker is taking credit for other people's work, and it's not fair.
    ✓ Correct — this is wrong. Without "always," it just sounds like right now: "My coworker is always taking credit for other people's work."
  • 5
    He is asking the same question, and it's a bit annoying.
    ✓ Correct — this is wrong. Without "constantly," it just sounds like right now: "He is constantly asking the same question."
  • 6
    She is always changing her mind at the last minute, and it's difficult for everyone.
    ✓ Correct — "always" shows this is a real complaint, not a single event.
  • 7
    He is driving too fast, and it scares me.
    ✓ Correct — this is wrong. Without "always," it just sounds like right now: "He is always driving too fast."
  • 8
    They are constantly breaking their promises, and it's annoying.
    ✓ Correct — breaking a promise again and again fits this pattern well.
Exercise D — Negatives

These sentences deny an accusation — for example, "I'm not always leaving my things around!" Type the whole negative verb phrase, including "always" or "constantly."

  • 1
    I all my money on video games! (always / spend)
  • 2
    She my clothes without asking! (always / wear)
  • 3
    He late to work! (always / arrive)
  • 4
    We about money! (always / argue)
  • 5
    I terrible dinners! (always / cook)
  • 6
    He my snacks! (always / eat)
  • 7
    She credit for my work! (always / take)
  • 8
    He the same question! (always / ask)
Exercise E — Questions

Type the whole opening question phrase — for example, "Is he always playing," not just "Is." Follow the subject/verb hint given.

  • 1
    loud music at night? (he / always play)
  • 2
    too fast? (she / constantly drive)
  • 3
    his keys? (your brother / always lose)
  • 4
    appointments? (she / constantly forget)
  • 5
    things off the shelf? (the neighbor's cat / always knock)
  • 6
    about his job? (he / constantly complain)
  • 7
    their minds about weekend plans? (they / always change)
  • 8
    dishes? (he / constantly break)
6 Choose the Right Sentence
Apply What You Know

Read each question carefully. Select the sentence that matches the description.

Question 1 of 8
Select the sentence that correctly complains about a repeated habit.
Question 2 of 8
Select the sentence that just describes right now, not a complaint about repeated behavior.
Question 3 of 8
Select the best description of this use.
Question 4 of 8
Select the correctly formed denial.
Question 5 of 8
Select the correctly formed question.
Question 6 of 8
Select the sentence that is NOT a complaint, unlike the other three.
Question 7 of 8
Select the word most typical of this use.
Question 8 of 8
Select the best test for whether this use applies.
7 Summary
Repeated Actions Which Annoy People use "always" or "constantly" with the Present Continuous to complain about someone's behavior, exaggerating on purpose to show they're annoyed.
  • The idea: "am/is/are" + "always" or "constantly" + verb-ing is how someone complains about another person's behavior to someone else.
  • Watch out: "always" and "constantly" are not real counts here — the person may not do this every single time. This is exaggeration, not a fact.
  • Common mistake: dropping "always" or "constantly" loses the complaint entirely — "She is asking me about my love life" just sounds like right now; "She is always asking me about my love life" is the complaint.
  • Typical words: always, constantly.
  • Quick test: is the speaker complaining about someone's behavior, using exaggeration to show they're annoyed?
  • Next, you'll meet the last Present Continuous use: personal plans already arranged for the future.
← Previous lesson Temporary Habits and Routines Next Arranged Future Plans →