Blog Archives

1. Is the landscape mountainous or flat?
The landscape is mountainous.

2. In the picture do you see an ocean or lake?
In the picture we see a lake.

3. Is the beach good for sunbathing?
No, the beach is not good for sunbathing. It’s too rocky.

4. What kind of trees are growing here?
There are pine trees (evergreens) growing by the lake.

5. Is the sailboat sailing towards the right or towards the left?
The sailboat is sailing towards the left.

6. What is jumping out of the water?
A fish is jumping out of the water.

7. What are the men in the canoe doing?
The men in the canoe are fishing.

8. What else besides birds are flying in the air?
In addition to birds flying, we also see a plane flying in the air.

9. Who is taking a walk on the road?
A man is taking a walk on the road with a couple of dogs.

10. Are the people on the right driving a sports car or a family car?
The people on the right are driving a family car.

11. How many people in the picture are on foot?
We see one person on foot in the picture.

12. Why don’t you need an umbrella?
We don’t need an umbrella because it’s not raining.

13. Can you go mountain climbing here?
You can probably go mountain climbing in the mountains that you see in the distance.

14. Is it possible to go camping with a tent here? To go on a picnic?
You could have a picnic alongside the lake under the trees, but it is not possible to camping with a tent here. You’d have to go to the mountains in the distance to find a good camping place.

15. Can you play golf here? Tennis? Baseball?
There aren’t any fields on which to play golf, tennis, or baseball here.

16. What else can you do here on a summer vacation? How about on a winter vacation?
On a summer vacation we could go sailing, canoeing, swimming, or fishing here. On a winter vacation, we could go ice skating, ice fishing, or skiing in the mountains in the distance.

17. What kind of wild animals would you find in this forest?
In this forest we could find squirrels, rabbits, foxes, raccoons, snakes, perhaps bears, woodpeckers, sparrows, robins, cardinals, bluebirds, or quail.

18. When does the water turn into ice?
The water turns into ice in the winter, when the temperature goes below freezing.

19. In which season do many students go on vacation?
Many students go on vacation in the summer, when they have summer break from school.

20. Where do you spend your summer vacations?
I like to spend my summer vacation by the lake or in the mountains.

Paragraph: My Vacation

Write a brief paragraph about a vacation that you took. Where did you go? What did you do? Would you recommend a friend to go there for his vacation?

When I was in my 30s, I went on a backpacking trip in Europe. I bought a Eurail pass, which allowed me unlimited travel by train throughout Europe for thirty days. First I traveled around Germany, visiting different cities such as Eisenach (where J.S. Bach was born, and where Martin Luther attended Latin school as a young boy), Chemnitz (formerly known as Karl Marx Stadt when it was a part of the former East Germany), and Kiel. At night I stayed in youth hostels. The hostels were very inexpensive, but sometimes it was difficult to find how to get to the hostel from the train station.

From Kiel I left Germany and took an overnight ferry to Oslo, the capital of Norway. I then traveled around Norway by rail, visiting cities such as Stavanger and Bergen. In Norway I didn’t stay in youth hostels, but I traveled by night on the trains and slept on the train instead. When I got tired of traveling, I went to visit relatives before going back home to the United States.

I had a lot of fun traveling around Europe and seeing many famous and historical places. Since I stayed in hostels and traveled by train, I was able to meet a lot of local people and talk to them. I would recommend anyone who likes to travel “off the beaten path” (= go to places that most tourists don’t see or don’t visit) to take a vacation like this. Be sure to take a lot of pictures so you can have some nice memories of your travel adventures!

vacation

Writing Assignment: Vacation

Posted on 2012/07/20

Vocabulary

mountain
left
sunbathing
to consist of
to the left
such a
to climb
sky, air
to need
to do
else
to need
a walk
vacation
possibility
shore
to go on vacation
ocean
animal
flat
to spend (time)
to fly
car
woods, forest
on foot
picnic
to become
mountainous
sports car
turn into
canoe
umbrella
wild
coming
lake
to camp (in a tent)
landscape
sailboat
to go sailing
for camping

1. Is the landscape mountainous or flat?
2. In the picture do you see an ocean or lake?
3. Is the beach good for sunbathing?
4. What kind of trees are growing here?
5. Is the sailboat sailing towards the right or towards the left?
6. What is jumping out of the water?
7. What are the men in the canoe doing?
8. What else besides birds are flying in the air?
9. Who is taking a walk on the road?
10. Are the people on the right driving a sports car or a family car?
11. How many people in the picture are on foot?
12. Why don’t you need an umbrella?
13. Can you go mountain climbing here?
14. Is it possible to go camping with a tent here? To go on a picnic?
15. Can you play golf here? Tennis? Baseball?
16. What else can you do here on a summer vacation? How about on a winter vacation?
17. What kind of wild animals would you find in this forest?
18. When does the water turn into ice?
19. In which season do many students go on vacation?
20. Where do you spend your summer vacations?

Paragraph: My Vacation

Write a brief paragraph about a vacation that you took. Where did you go? What did you do? Would you recommend a friend to go there for his vacation?

vacation

Crossword – Irregular Verbs 5 (solution)

Posted on 2012/07/16

Writing Assignment: At the Beach (Solution)

Posted on 2012/07/14

Click for larger image

1. Where was this picture taken?
This picture was taken at the beach.

2. Who do you see in this picture?
In this picture we see some children and a couple of adults.

3. What are the people in this picture doing?
The children are playing in the sand, and the adults are swimming in the water.

4. What is the weather like?
The weather is sunny, and perhaps a little windy.

5. What do people usually do at the beach?
At the beach, people usually go swimming or sunbathing.

6. What other activities can you see at the beach?
At the beach you can also see people walking along the shore, playing beach volleyball, having a picnic, or building sandcastles. You can also see children playing in the water or in the sand.

7. What can you find if you walk along the shore?
If you walk along the shore, you can find seashells.

8. What is the special name for a wooden sidewalk at the beach?
The wooden sidewalk at the beach is called a boardwalk.

9. What do you call the clothes you wear when swimming?
The clothes you wear when you go swimming are called swimsuits.

10. At the beach, where can you change into your swim clothes?
At the beach, you can use a bathhouse or beach house to change into your swimsuit.

11. What kinds of accessories are useful to have at the beach?
When you are at the beach, it is useful to have things like a blanket or a towel to sit or lie on. It is also handy to have a beach umbrella to give you some shade from the sun. If you have children with you, it is also useful to have some sand toys such as a sand bucket and shovel, and some blow-up toys like a beach ball or inflatable swim ring.

12. What do children like to do at the beach?
At the beach, children like to play in the water, or dig in the sand and make sandcastles. They also like to collect pretty shells.

13. Who helps keep people safe at the beach?
The lifeguard helps to keep people safe at the beach.

14. What is dangerous about swimming in water?
When swimming, you have to be careful. You could get a leg cramp, which would make it difficult or painful to swim. Sometimes there are also strong currents, such as undertows or rip tides (rip currents) that can exhaust even an experienced swimmer and cause him to drown. Because of situations like these, you should never swim alone.

15. What can he use to help people in distress?
If a lifeguard sees a person in distress, he can use a life preserver to help them stay afloat and bring them to safety.

16. Why might people need a lifeguard to assist them?
People might need a lifeguard to assist them if they get a leg cramp or become exhausted or are otherwise unable to swim. They may also need a lifeguard’s assistance if they find they have swum out too far or are in water that is too deep for them.

17. What do you call the movement of the water?
There are different ways water can move. If it is windy, the water will move in waves that come against the shore. In a river, ocean, or sea, the water will move because of a current. The water in oceans and seas also move up and down twice a day because of the moon’s gravitational influence – this is called the tide.

18. What can you do if you get hungry or thirsty at the beach?
If you get hungry or thirsty at the beach, you can go to the concession stand and buy something to eat or drink. If you have brought picnic supplies, you can find something to eat or drink from your own cooler.

19. How can people protect themselves from the sun?
People can protect themselves from the sun by using a beach umbrella. But a lot of sunlight is still reflected off the water and the sand, so you can still get some sunburn even if you’re under an umbrella. You can use sunblock to help prevent the sun’s ultraviolet rays from damaging your skin. If you want to work on a suntan, you can apply suntan lotion to help you get a tan.

20. What can happen if you get too much sun?
If you get too much sun, you can get sunburned. If you get an excessive amount of sun, you could get not only sunburned, but you could also get a sunstroke, which could be serious, and might require medical attention.

Paragraph: A Day at the Beach

When I was younger, my grandparents lived in Florida. We often visited them at Christmastime, and I would enjoy the nice Florida weather by going swimming at the beach. One year I spent too much time at the beach, and got a horrible sunburn. Part of the reason why the sunburn was so severe was because my skin was used to winter weather, and I had lost my summer suntan to protect my skin from the Florida sun. I felt fine during the day, but when I went home in the evening, my skin was as red as a tomato. I think I also must have had a touch of sunstroke, because I also felt sick and nauseous from too much exposure to the sun. The next day I did not feel nauseous, but I was still miserable because my skin felt like it was on fire. It took much longer to get over the sunburn, but I learned my lesson: Do not spend all day at the beach without using some sort of protection, such as sunblock, or even wearing a t-shirt.

Writing Assignment: At the Beach

Posted on 2012/07/13

Click for larger image

Vocabulary

sun
water
sand
shore
waves
sunbathe
sunblock
suntan lotion
suntan
sunburn
sunstroke
shade
beach umbrella
towel
blanket
cooler
picnic basket
beach ball
blow-up toy
swim ring
sand bucket / sand pail
shovel
sandcastle
swim
swimsuit
concession stand
beach house / bathhouse
boardwalk
beach volleyball
seaweed
seashells
leg cramp
drown
lifeguard
life preserver
current
undertow
tide
rip tide / rip current

1.   Where was this picture taken?
2.   Who do you see in this picture?
3.   What are the people in this picture doing?
4.   What is the weather like?
5.   What do people usually do at the beach?
6.   What other activities can you see at the beach?
7.   What can you find if you walk along the shore?
8.   What is the special name for a wooden sidewalk at the beach?
9.   What do you call the clothes you wear when swimming?
10.   At the beach, where can you change into your swim clothes?
11.   What kinds of accessories are useful to have at the beach?
12.   What do children like to do at the beach?
13.   Who helps keep people safe at the beach?
14.   What is dangerous about swimming in water?
15.   What can he use to help people in distress?
16.   Why might people need a lifeguard to assist them?
17.   What do you call the movement of the water?
18.   What can you do if you get hungry or thirsty at the beach?
19.   How can people protect themselves from the sun?
20.   What can happen if you get too much sun?

Paragraph: A Day at the Beach

Have you ever gone to the beach? What did you do there? Did you swim and have fun in the water, or did you just get a suntan? Write a brief paragraph about a time you went to the beach.

Grammar Basics: Unit 52 – work / working, go / going, do / doing (Solution)

Posted on 2012/07/13

Exercise. Complete the sentences. Use either “eat breakfast” or “to eat breakfast.”

Example:

I’ll _____________. ==> I’ll eat breakfast.
John’s going _____________. ==> John’s going to eat breakfast.

1.   I could eat breakfast.
2.   You must eat breakfast.
3.   Mary wants to eat breakfast.
4.   He may eat breakfast.
5.   They have to eat breakfast.
6.   We can eat breakfast.
7.   I want to eat breakfast.
8.   You should eat breakfast.
9.   She might eat breakfast.
10.   Father used to eat breakfast.

Exercise. Complete the sentences with a verb from the list. Choose either the base form (sleep/play) or the –ing form (sleeping/playing).

Example:

Shhh – the baby is (sleep/sleeping). ==> Shhh – the baby is sleeping.
Do you (play/playing) a musical instrument? ==> Do you play a musical instrument?

1.   I might need your help later this afternoon.
2.   Make sure to set the alarm – I’m getting up early tomorrow morning.
3.   What are you wearing for the costume party next week?
4.   Did John practice the piano after school?
5.   Mark didn’t write his thank-you note yet.
6.   They must be tired after their long journey.
7.   Does the hotel have a swimming pool?
8.   Mary said she would bring some salad for the picnic.
9.   Our team is playing the Southsiders tomorrow.
10.   The ice cream stand doesn’t take credit cards.

Exercise. Put the verb in the correct form. Choose either the base form, the infinitive form, or the –ing form.

Example:

May I _____________ you? (help) ==> May I help you?
I have _____________ a movie for my history class. (watch) ==> I have to watch a movie for my history class.
The children _____________ hopscotch. (play) ==> The children are playing hopscotch.

1.   We would like to rent a cabin for our vacation.
2.   Does this vending machine work?
3.   I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
4.   They’re going to build a new school across the street.
5.   We will give you a call as soon as we get home.
6.   The janitor is cleaning the boys’ bathroom right now.
7.   We must hear the orchestra play Mozart’s requiem – I’ve heard it’s an excellent performance.
8.   Uncle Howard doesn’t like opera.
9.   I would like to visit the Grand Canyon someday.
10.   Mother couldn’t open the pickle jar.
11.   What time does your plane leave tomorrow morning?
12.   When did you come home last night?
13.   Father used to sing in the choir when he was a young man.
14.   I have to return the library book today.
15.   The children want to go to the museum this weekend.

Grammar Basics: Unit 52 – work / working, go / going, do / doing

Posted on 2012/07/12

Let’s review some of the things we’ve covered here in Grammar Basics so far.

When we use modal verbs (will, shall, might, may, can, could, must, should, would), we use what is called the base form, or dictionary form, of the verb:

will:   John will wash the dishes.
shall:   I shall call you later today.
might:   It might rain tomorrow.
may:   Tom may come to the party.
can:   Bobby can write his name now.
could:   We could go to the park.
must:   You must stand up.
should:   He should get a new car.
would:   I would be quiet if I were you.

The base form / dictionary form is also used with do/does and did:

do/does:

Do you see John anywhere?
Does your dog have a leash?
The phone doesn’t work.

did:

When did you come home last night?
I didn’t eat the cupcake.

We also use the base form / dictionary form after the infinitive marker to:

going to:   I’m going to go to bed now.
have to:   Tom has to do his homework after school.
want to:   We want to build a sand castle.
would like to:   I would like to have some tea, please.
used to:   We used to play by the river when we were kids.

–ing is used for the continuous form:

am/is/are –ing:

Our school is putting on the play, The Diary of Anne Frank.
We are going on vacation next month.
I am taking a shower.

was/were –ing:

I was sleeping when you called.
The boys were playing outside when Grandfather arrived.

Exercise. Complete the sentences. Use either “eat breakfast” or “to eat breakfast.”

Example:

I’ll _____________. ==> I’ll eat breakfast.
John’s going _____________. ==> John’s going to eat breakfast.

1.   I could _____________.
2.   You must _____________.
3.   Mary wants _____________.
4.   He may _____________.
5.   They have _____________.
6.   We can _____________.
7.   I want _____________.
8.   You should _____________.
9.   She might _____________.
10.   Father used _____________.

Exercise. Complete the sentences with a verb from the list. Choose either the base form (sleep/play) or the –ing form (sleeping/playing).

Example:

Shhh – the baby is (sleep/sleeping). ==> Shhh – the baby is sleeping.
Do you (play/playing) a musical instrument? ==> Do you play a musical instrument?

be/being
bring/bringing
get/getting
have/having
need/needing
play/playing
practice/practicing
take/taking
wear/wearing
write/writing

1.   I might _____________ your help later this afternoon.
2.   Make sure to set the alarm – I’m _____________ up early tomorrow morning.
3.   What are you _____________ for the costume party next week?
4.   Did John _____________ the piano after school?
5.   Mark didn’t _____________ his thank-you note yet.
6.   They must _____________ tired after their long journey.
7.   Does the hotel _____________ a swimming pool?
8.   Mary said she would _____________ some salad for the picnic.
9.   Our team is _____________ the Southsiders tomorrow.
10.   The ice cream stand doesn’t _____________ credit cards.

Exercise. Put the verb in the correct form. Choose either the base form, the infinitive form, or the –ing form.

Example:

May I _____________ you? (help) ==> May I help you?
I have _____________ a movie for my history class. (watch) ==> I have to watch a movie for my history class.
The children _____________ hopscotch. (play) ==> The children are playing hopscotch.

1.   We would like _____________ a cabin for our vacation. (rent)
2.   Does this vending machine _____________? (work)
3.   I’m so hungry I could _____________ a horse. (eat)
4.   They’re going _____________ a new school across the street. (build)
5.   We will _____________ you a call as soon as we get home. (give)
6.   The janitor _____________ the boys’ bathroom right now. (clean)
7.   We must _____________ the orchestra play Mozart’s requiem – I’ve heard it’s an excellent performance. (hear)
8.   Uncle Howard doesn’t _____________ opera. (like)
9.   I would like _____________ the Grand Canyon someday. (visit)
10.   Mother couldn’t _____________ the pickle jar. (open)
11.   What time does your plane _____________ tomorrow morning? (leave)
12.   When did you _____________ home last night? (come)
13.   Father used _____________ in the choir when he was a young man. (sing)
14.   I have _____________ the library book today. (return)
15.   The children want _____________ to the museum this weekend. (go)

Grammar Basics: Unit 51 – She said that…, He told me that… (Solution)

Posted on 2012/07/11

Exercise. Report what the following people said by writing sentences using “X said (that)…”

Example:

George: “I can’t tell a lie.” ==> George said that he can’t tell a lie.

1. Jack: “Our band has a concert tonight.”
Jack said his band had a concert tonight.

2. Sharon: “I have to go to the store.”
Sharon said she had to go to the store.

3. Dean: “I’ll wash the dishes.”
Dean said he would wash the dishes.

4. Marcia: “I’m going to have a baby in September.”
Marcia said she was going to have a baby in September.

5. Tom: “I don’t like history class.”
Tom said he didn’t like history class.

6. Kelly: “I feel so tired today.”
Kelly said she felt tired today.

7. Kevin: “There’s a new movie coming out this Friday.”
Kevin said there was a new movie coming out this Friday.

8. Chris: “I can’t stay up late tonight. I have to get to bed early.”
Chris said he couldn’t stay up late tonight – he had to get to bed early.

9. Steve: “My mother won’t let me eat candy.”
Steve said his mother wouldn’t let him eat candy.

10. Tim: “My father is on a business trip.”
Tim said his father was on a business trip.

Exercise. Use said or told to complete the sentence.

Example:

She _______ she was buying a new car. ==> She said she was buying a new car.
Jack _______ me he climbed up the beanstalk. ==> Jack told me he climbed up the beanstalk.

1.   The teacher said the book report is due on Tuesday.
2.   Tom said we should go to Disneyworld sometime.
3.   Sally told her mother she wanted to learn to play the piano.
4.   Mark said he could only stay a few minutes.
5.   The boss told us we needed to meet our monthly quota.
6.   Jack told Jill to fetch a pail of water.
7.   My tennis instructor told me I had to practice my serve.
8.   Grandmother said she would go to Florida for the winter.
9.   Father said he was going to get a haircut after work.
10.   He told her he loved her.

Crossword – Basic Vocabulary 21 (solution)

Posted on 2012/07/09

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Grammar Basics: Unit 50 – Do you know where…? I don’t know what….(Solution)

Posted on 2012/07/06

Exercise. Answer the following questions with I don’t know where / when / why / what / etc.

Example:

Is Tom at the gym? (where) ==> I don’t know where Tom is.

1. Was Miss Jackson in class yesterday?
I don’t know where Miss Jackson was.

2. Has the lawn mower been broken very long?
I don’t know how long the lawn mower has been broken.

3. Is the hotel new?
I don’t know how old the hotel is.

4. Have the children gone to school?
I don’t know where the children have gone.

5. Will Mother come home soon?
I don’t know when Mother will come home.

Exercise. Complete the following sentences.

Example:

Why do dogs bark? I don’t know ==> I don’t know why dogs bark.
When is the next bus? Do you know ==> Do you know when the next bus is?

1. What did Tom eat for lunch?
I don’t remember what Tom ate for lunch.

2. When is Mary going to college?
I don’t know when Mary is going to college.

3. Why is Jack selling his car?
Do you know why Jack is selling his car?

4. Where is the hotel?
Do you know where the hotel is?

5. How did Patrick break his leg?
I don’t know how Patrick broke his leg.

6. How hot is it?
Do you know how hot it is?

7. What did Sally get for her birthday?
I don’t remember what Sally got for her birthday.

Exercise. Write questions using Do you know if….?

Example:

Can Michael come with us? ==> Do you know if Michael can come with us?

1. Is Jack invited to the party?
Do you know if Jack is invited to the party?

2. Has Martin booked his vacation?
Do you know if Martin has booked his vacation?

3. Can Steve fix my broken clock?
Do you know if Steve can fix my broken clock?

4. Do the twins like chocolate cake?
Do you know if the twins like chocolate cake?

5. Was the window left open
Do you know if the window was left open?

6. Does Jill have a key to Dad’s house?
Do you know if Jill has a key to Dad’s house?

7. Have they picked up the garbage yet?
Do you know if they have picked up the garbage yet?

8. Did Debbie do the dishes?
Do you know if Debbie did the dishes?

9. Had the book been checked out of the library?
Do you know if the book had been checked out of the library?

10. Were there a lot of people at the beach?
Do you know if there were a lot of people at the beach?