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DAILY ROUTINE: C1 LEVEL the base form (infinitive) or the -ing form (present participle) without specific
subject information.
Learning how to talk about your daily routine is typically one of the first things
you learn when you begin learning English. However, in this lesson, I’m going Advanced Comparative Structures
to walk you through my daily routine using C1-level grammar and vocabulary. I
will then go through some of these advanced grammar topics and give you the Now, let’s take a minute to look at this structure:
definitions and example sentences of loads of C1-level vocabulary. I’ve also
included a quiz at the end to wrap it all up! it isn’t so much challenging as it is invigorating…

Using not so much + adjective + as + adjective is an advanced comparative

My Routine: Part 1 structure we use to compare two related qualities.

Upon waking up to the melodious chimes of my alarm clock, I embark on

Compound Adjectives
my well-established morning routine that I’ve perfected over the years.
First and foremost, I indulge in a brief meditation session, allowing me to Okay, let me address one more grammar concept before we move on to the
clear my mind and start the day with a sense of calm. In addition to my rest of my routine: compound adjectives, like—
mental exercise, I dive into a challenging 30-minute workout session, but
well-established
I guess it isn’t so much challenging as it is invigorating. After freshening
30-minute
up, I pamper myself with my nourishing skincare regimen, ensuring a
well-hydrated
well-hydrated and glowing complexion.

GRAMMAR BREAKDOWN Compound adjectives are adjectives that are formed by combining two or
more words to create a single descriptive term. These adjectives are
Let’s look at this first paragraph a bit deeper. We can start by looking at these commonly used to convey complex or specific qualities that may not be easily
three clauses: expressed with a single word.
Upon waking up to the melodious chimes of my alarm clock
allowing me to clear my mind and start the day with a sense of calm I used several hyphenated compound adjectives in this first paragraph. We use
ensuring a well-hydrated and glowing complexion the hyphens to clarify that the words are meant to be taken together as a
single descriptive unit. There are other forms of compound adjectives that I
They are known as non-finite clauses. This is a topic we cover in-depth in my cover in my C1 programme.
C1 programme, but here is a quick explanation of non-finite clauses.
VOCABULARY
Non-finite clauses
melodious /məˈləʊdiəs/ - having a pleasant and harmonious sound
A non-finite clause is a type of clause that doesn't have a subject and a finite Whitney Houston’s melodious voice captivated the audience.
verb (a verb with tense and agreement). In other words, it's an incomplete
sentence that can’t stand alone as a complete thought. Non-finite clauses use

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to embark /ɪmˈbɑːk/ - to begin or start a journey or other task, often with a sense of My Routine: Part 2
enthusiasm
They decided to embark on a round-the-world trip to explore different cultures. No sooner have I got dressed in my most casual yet professional attire
than I am wolfing down a hearty breakfast to fuel my day ahead. With a
first and foremost - primarily or above all; the most important thing to consider
steaming cup of herbal tea in hand, I scan the morning headlines to stay
First and foremost, the health and safety of our passengers is our top priority.
informed on the happenings of the world. Meanwhile, as I commute to
to indulge /ɪnˈdʌldʒ/ - to allow oneself to enjoy or partake in something pleasurable
work, I immerse myself in an audiobook, relishing the well-written prose
I decided to indulge in a rich chocolate cake on my birthday. and captivating storytelling. Thus, I arrive at work ready to tackle the day
ahead of me.
to dive into - to enthusiastically start something like an activity or project
He couldn't wait to dive into the new novel he had just bought. GRAMMAR BREAKDOWN

Negative Inversion
invigorating /ɪnˈvɪɡəreɪtɪŋ/ - energising or refreshing; a feeling of renewed energy
The only way she can fully wake up is by taking an invigorating morning jog in the In the first sentence, "No sooner have I got dressed in my most casual yet
crisp air. professional attire than I am wolfing down a hearty breakfast to fuel my day
ahead," the construction "No sooner have I got dressed" is an example of
to freshen up - to clean or revitalise oneself by washing or tidying up, often in negative inversion.
relation to personal appearance
After the long flight, he took a quick shower to freshen up before his big meeting. Negative inversion is a grammatical structure where the usual word order of a
sentence is inverted or changed when a negative adverbial expression is used
to pamper /ˈpæmpə/ - to treat someone or oneself with special care, attention and
at the beginning of the sentence. Instead of the regular word order subject-
indulgence
verb, we use the inverted order adverb-verb-subject.
As it was her birthday, Emma decided to pamper herself with a relaxing spa day.

nourishing /ˈnʌrɪʃɪŋ/ - providing essential nutrients and promoting health and well-
The construction is important because it adds emphasis. I’m not just saying, "I
being have got dressed," but I’m highlighting the immediacy of the action by using
Mum’s famous hearty vegetable soup was not only delicious but also nourishing. "no sooner."

regimen /ˈredʒɪmən/ - a structured and planned routine or set of activities This construction often indicates that one action happens immediately after
Samuel followed a strict exercise regimen to stay fit and healthy. another, almost without any delay. Using negative inversion helps to add a
little flair to the story instead of sticking to the same subject-verb type
complexion /kəmˈplekʃn/ - the natural colour, texture and appearance of the skin construction — but it should be used sparingly.
on a person's face
What moisturiser do you use to maintain such a smooth complexion? Signposts

The final two sentences featured signposts, words like ‘meanwhile’ and ‘thus'.

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Using signposting language is like giving your writing a GPS – it helps steer to scan /skæn/ - to examine or look over something quickly and systematically,
your audience smoothly along and keeps your thoughts organised. These little often to find specific information or details
words and phrases act as the glue that holds your writing together. Brenda scanned the document quickly to see if the information would jump out at
her.
Think of it this way: without these signposting cues, your writing could get all
to commute /kəˈmjuːt/ - to travel regularly between one's home and workplace
jumbled up and end up sounding like a bunch of random thoughts.
It gets a bit tiring having to commute by train to the city every day.

COMPREHENSION CHECK! to immerse /ɪˈmɜːs/ - to deeply involve or engage oneself in an activity, subject or
experience
Can you identify the signposting language in our first paragraph? After her break-up, she chose to immerse herself in meditation and self-care.

Upon waking up to the melodious chimes of my alarm clock, I embark on my to relish /ˈrelɪʃ/ - to take great pleasure in or appreciate
well-established morning routine that I’ve perfected over the years. First and We relished the opportunity to travel and explore new cultures.
foremost, I indulge in a brief meditation session, allowing me to clear my mind
and start the day with a sense of calm. In addition to my mental exercise, I dive prose /prəʊz/ - written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without the
into a challenging 30-minute workout session, but I guess it isn’t so much rhythmic and metrical structure of poetry
challenging as it is invigorating. After freshening up, I pamper myself with my The novel is written in beautiful prose that captivates the reader.
nourishing skincare regimen, ensuring a well-hydrated and glowing
to tackle /ˈtækl/ - to confront or deal with in a determined manner
complexion.
With a cup of coffee in hand, she was ready to tackle the mountain of paperwork on
her desk.
Here is the signposting language used in this paragraph:
First and foremost My Routine: Part 3
in addition to
after Upon arriving at the office, I buckle down and get on with my work,
meticulously completing my tasks in the most efficient way possible. It is
If that gave you a bit of trouble, don’t worry! You will learn all about knowing that I am contributing in a meaningful way that I thrive on, and I
signposting in my C1 programme. actively seek opportunities to enhance my skill set. Throughout the day, I
engage in productive dialogues with colleagues, synergising ideas and
VOCABULARY learning from their unique perspectives.
attire /əˈtaɪə/ - clothing; garments or outfits worn by a person
GRAMMAR BREAKDOWN
The description for the event said ‘casual cocktail attire’, but what does that mean?
Post-modified Adjectives
to wolf down - to eat something quickly
He was so hungry that he wolfed down his burger in a matter of seconds. First, we have the clause “meticulously completing my tasks in the most
efficient way possible”, which utilises a post-modified superlative adjective.

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A post-modified superlative adjective is placed after the noun. It modifies and to engage /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/ - to become involved, participate or interact with something or
adds emphasis or specific information about the noun. This construction is someone actively
used to highlight the extreme quality of the noun in comparison to others of He’s been engaged in a riveting game of poker for the past three hours.
its kind.
dialogue /ˈdaɪəlɒɡ/ - a conversation or discussion between two or more people
After months of dialogues with the higher-ups, we are all getting pay rises!
Cleft Sentences

The structure of the second sentence was a bit of an odd one: It is knowing to synergise /ˈsɪnədʒaɪz/ - to combine different elements or efforts to create a
that I am contributing in a meaningful way that I thrive on, and I actively seek mutually beneficial outcome
opportunities to enhance my skill set. The marketing team spent months figuring out how to synergise their skills to
produce outstanding results.

We call this a cleft sentence, a grammatical construction used to emphasise a

particular element in a sentence by dividing it into two clauses. The purpose My Routine: Part 4
of a cleft sentence is to bring attention to a specific part of the sentence, often As the day draws to a close, I reflect on my achievements, striving to be
by reorganising the structure to highlight that element.
the best version of myself both personally and professionally. All I hope
is that I outdo my previous accomplishments each day as I embrace life
In this case, I wanted to highlight ‘knowing that I am contributing in a
with unwavering determination. By adopting this disciplined and
meaningful way’, so I was able to restructure my sentence to make sure that
purposeful routine, I feel confident that I can continue on a path of self-
this portion of the sentence was the main focus.
improvement and well-being.
VOCABULARY
GRAMMAR BREAKDOWN
to buckle down - to apply oneself diligently and with determination to a task
Let's look at our first sentence—
With exams approaching, Ben decided it was time to buckle down and study.
As the day draws to a close, I reflect on my achievements, striving to be the best
to get on with something - to start or continue with a task or activity, often without version of myself both personally and professionally.
unnecessary delay
Can we get on with the meeting, or are we going to wait for Amir? We have a few different things going on. First, we have ‘as the day draws to a
close’, which is a subordinate clause, but you should already be familiar with
meticulously /məˈtɪkjʊləsli/ - in a very careful and precise manner, paying great those. These are clauses that can’t stand on their own as individual sentences.
attention to details They have to be attached to a main or independent clause.
He meticulously arranged the flowers on each table.
But, we also have a participle clause: striving to be the best version of myself
to thrive on - to succeed or find enjoyment and motivation in a particular situation, both personally and professionally.
challenge or environment
Greg truly thrives on the fast-paced nature of his job.
A participle clause is a type of non-finite clause. The example consists of a
present participle — striving.
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We also have a participle clause in our last sentence: By adopting this unwavering /ʌnˈweɪvərɪŋ/ - steady, resolute and not faltering
disciplined and purposeful routine… Your unwavering dedication to your morals is truly commendable and deserving of
respect.
This participle clause also functions as an adverbial phrase because I used the
preposition ‘by’, explaining how the action in the main clause is achieved. determination /dɪˌtɜːmɪˈneɪʃən/ - the quality of being firm and committed to
achieving goals, often in the face of challenges or obstacles
Her determination to succeed drove her to overcome every obstacle in her path.
Finally, we saw another common construction of a cleft sentence: All I hope is
that I outdo my previous accomplishments each day as I embrace life with
to adopt /əˈdɒpt/ - to take up, accept or embrace a practice, belief or approach,
unwavering determination. often incorporating it into one's own life or routine
My aunt has decided to adopt a healthier lifestyle by exercising regularly and eating
The structure what/all + clause + be + clause is quite commonly used, so it’s a nutritious foods.
good one to have in your back pocket.

VOCABULARY

to draw to a close - to come to the end of an event, period or activity

As the sun set, the day began to draw to a close, and everyone started heading home.

to reflect /rɪˈflekt/ - to think deeply about something

We took some time to reflect on what happened before making a decision.

achievement /əˈtʃiːvmənt/ - an accomplishment or success gained through effort or

hard work
His academic and professional achievements are truly remarkable.

the best version of oneself - striving to reach one's highest potential

Through dedication and self-improvement, Glenda aspired to be the best version of
herself.

accomplishment /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/ - the successful completion of a task, project or

goal
His numerous accomplishments in the field of science were recognised with
prestigious awards.

to embrace /ɪmˈbreɪs/ - to accept something with enthusiasm and openness

They decided to embrace the new challenges at work and make the most of the
situation.

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QUIZ!
Choose the correct phrases from the Word Bank to complete the conversation.

Johan, a dedicated baker, starts each day with an (1) ________ dedication to
creating delicious treats. First and foremost, he puts on his baking (2) ________: a
white coat that reflects his professionalism. With a cup of coffee in hand, he (3)
________ into the day's tasks, (4) ________ himself in the joy of crafting exquisite
pastries. Johan (5) _________ on the (6) ________ aromas that fill his bakery as
the ovens warm up.

He (7) ________ measures ingredients, embracing each step of the baking process
with care. Nourishing creations like hearty bread and muffins are his specialities,
providing customers with a taste of comfort and health. As the morning draws to
a close, Johan takes a moment to reflect on his (8) ________ and to relish the
satisfaction of a well-baked batch.

After lunch, he (9) ________ on experimenting with new recipes, taking the
opportunity to indulge his creativity. With his apron dusted with flour, he (10)
___________ the challenge of crafting delicate pastries. Later, he takes a short
break to pamper himself with a warm cup of tea and a moment of peace.

As the sun sets, Johan embraces the satisfaction of a productive day. He believes
in embracing the journey and thoroughly enjoying the process. With his bakery
humming along, Johan is ready to take on another day of creating delectable
delights.

Word Bank
a. accomplishments f. thrives
b. meticulously g. dives
c. invigorating h. immersing
d. unwavering i. tackles
e. attire j. embarks

The End!
1) d 2) e 3) g 4) h 5) f 6) c 7) b 8) a 9) j 10) i

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