Present simple for habits and routines — used to describe what someone regularly does. "It's usually leftovers when I come into work because it's easier."
Conditional with 'would' for hypothetical preferences — would + verb expresses a preference or imagined situation. "If I go out and buy food, then I would usually go for something like sushi or ramen."
'Would rather' for expressing preference — a fixed structure meaning prefer to; note that the verb after it has no to. "I would rather eat my lunch without working."
Past simple for recent past events — used naturally to describe what happened yesterday or earlier. "Yesterday I made a pasta for lunch with vegetables in it."
About this video
This episode of BBC Learning English's Real Easy English podcast features hosts Beth and Neil having a relaxed, unscripted conversation about lunch — recorded, as they mention, just before their actual lunch break, so their hunger is genuine and even playful. They swap stories about bringing in leftovers (Neil has chicken in harissa paste; Beth has pasta), discuss favourite sandwiches like smoked salmon and egg mayonnaise baguettes, debate whether skipping lunch is ever acceptable, and share their overall favourite meals of the day. The episode wraps with a mini vocabulary recap covering skip, working lunch, leftovers, and prefer / would rather.
For shadowing practice, this video is close to ideal at A2 level. Both speakers use clear, standard British English at a natural but unhurried pace. Sentences are short and conversational, there are frequent back-and-forth exchanges that give you a sense of real rhythm, and the topic — food and daily routines — means the vocabulary is immediately practical and repeatable in everyday life.
This suits beginner-to-elementary learners (A1–A2) who want to build confidence with everyday conversation topics. Shadowers will practise expressing preferences (I'd rather…, I'd prefer…), talking about habits (I usually…, Sometimes I…), and using casual filler phrases that native speakers rely on constantly. It is also a great model for how two people keep a friendly chat flowing naturally.
Idioms & expressions
I'm starving — an informal, exaggerated way to say you are very hungry
no wonder — it is not surprising; used to explain something obvious ("It's no wonder that we're both very hungry.")
go for — to choose or pick something, especially food or a option ("I would usually go for something like sushi.")
skip (a meal) — to deliberately miss or not have a meal ("Do you ever skip lunch?")
in a horrible mood — feeling irritable or bad-tempered ("I would be in a horrible mood if I skipped lunch.")
carry on — to continue doing something ("I can carry on working and eat quickly.")
Me neither — used to agree with a negative statement; equivalent to I don't either ("I don't really like working lunches." — "Me neither.")
