Blog Archives
Crossword – Basic Vocabulary 39 (Solution)
Posted on 2013/04/01
Writing Assignment: Around the House (Solution)
Posted on 2013/03/30
1. What type of building is this picture probably taken in?
This picture was probably taken inside a house.
2. How would you get in and out of this building?
You would get in and out of this building using a door – either the front door, or the back door.
3. What kind of room do we see in this picture?
In this picture we see a living room.
4. What might you do in this kind of room?
In a living room we might relax: read a book, watch TV, talk with friends, or enjoy a hobby.
5. Where could you sit down in this room?
In this room you could sit down on a sofa (couch) or a chair.
6. What other type of furniture might be found in this room?
Other types of furniture that you might find in this room could be a futon, a table, a coffee table, a bookcase, a china cabinet, or an ottoman.
7. What do you see on the floor of this room?
We see a rug on the floor of this room.
8. What could you have in this room if you wanted to know what time it was?
If we had a clock in the room, we would be able to know what time it was.
9. What could you do if you needed more light in this room?
If we needed more light, we could turn on a lamp. We could also let more light into the room by opening up the curtains or drapes.
10. What could you do if you needed more heat in this room?
If we needed more heat, we could turn up the thermostat. We could also light a fire in the fireplace, if the room has one.
11. What could you do if you wanted to have fresh air in this room?
If we wanted to have some fresh air in the room, we could open up the windows. We could also open up the doors.
12. What could you do if you wanted to decorate this room?
If we wanted to decorate the room, we could put things on the walls, like pictures or wall hangings. We could also paint the walls, or put up some wallpaper.
13. What other rooms might this building have?
Other rooms that a house might have would be a kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom. Some houses might also have a basement or an attic.
14. What do you call the small room where you can store your clothes?
The small room where you can store your clothes is called a closet.
15. What do you call the room where you can sleep?
The room where you can sleep is called a bedroom.
16. What do you call the room where you can wash up and brush your teeth?
The room where you can wash up and brush your teeth is called a bathroom.
17. What do you call the passageway that connects rooms to one another?
The passageway that connects the rooms in a house or apartment is called a hall(way).
18. What kinds of storage rooms might there be in this building?
Other storages rooms that a house might have would be a basement, an attic, or a pantry.
19. Where else could you put or display dishes or other items such as knickknacks or souvenirs?
If you want to display dishes, knickknacks, souvenirs, or the like, you could put them in a china cabinet, a corner cabinet, or a curio cabinet.
20. What kind of table might be suitable for serving an afternoon coffee or tea?
A coffee table would be a good place to serve afternoon coffee or afternoon tea.
Paragraph: Around the House
Write a brief paragraph about your home. Do you live in a house, or an apartment? Is it large, or small? How do you decorate it? In what room of your house/apartment do you spend most of your time? What sort of features would your “dream house” (ideal house/apartment) have?
When I was growing up, I lived in a house. It was a ranch house (one story) built on the side of a hill. It was an average-sized house, neither extra big nor extra small. The house had three bedrooms and one bedroom, connected by a hall. Each bedroom had a closet and two windows, except for the middle bedroom, which had only one window.
The house also had a kitchen. The kitchen had plenty of counter space, and was large enough for a kitchen table. However, if the family came over for a holiday dinner, we had to set up a spare table in the living room, because there was not enough space in the kitchen.
The living room was the main room of the house. Most of our time was spent there. In the living room we had a fireplace, a piano, my brother’s fish tank, and the TV. The living room had a set of six windows, which looked out over the hill and the road. Across the road was the river, and in the winter time when the leaves were off the trees, we could get an unobstructed view of the river.
The house also had a basement and an attic. In the basement was the garage, along with the washing machine, the dryer, and a spare refrigerator. We also stored our bicycles, sleds, skates, and other outdoor toys in the basement. The basement was unfinished, and much cooler than the rest of the house, especially in the summer. In the attic we stored off-season clothes, old books and toys, and other seldom-used items, such as a spare roll-away bed. The attic didn’t have windows, but at either end of the attic were a couple of screened openings for ventilation. In the summertime, the attic became especially hot, much hotter than the rest of the house.
I was in college when my parents sold the house. That made me sad, because it was the house I grew up in, and I had many happy memories there.
Grammar Basics: Unit 64 – myself, yourself, etc. (Solution)
Posted on 2013/03/29
Exercises. Complete the following sentences using a reflexive pronoun: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
Example:
I knocked the glass over and spilled wine all over _______. ==> I knocked the glass over and spilled wine all over myself.
1. Our anniversary present to ourselves is an Alaskan cruise.
2. The harried mother treated herself to a relaxing afternoon at the spa.
3. You kids need to behave yourselves if you want to go on the field trip next week.
4. The dog injured itself in a coon fight.
5. The children had to clean up after themselves before the teacher would let them go outside for recess.
6. The roof of the abandoned building collapsed in on itself from the heavy snow.
7. Father chided himself for leaving the gate open and letting the pigs escape.
8. If I’m not home when you arrive, just let yourself in and wait for me.
9. One reason why Mark didn’t enjoy single life was because he got tired of cooking for himself all the time.
10. The campgrounds were nice and quiet – we had the whole place to ourselves.
11. The makeup artist did such a tremendous job that Aunt Elaine was hardly able to recognize herself.
12. If you boys are hungry, just help yourselves to some frozen pizzas.
13. The guards were ashamed of themselves for falling asleep on duty and letting the enemy sneak past them into the camp.
14. Sometimes I surprise myself when I have a good idea like that.
15. Careful – don’t hurt yourself!
16. I was angry at myself for forgetting my lunch at home, and having to go all day without eating.
Exercises. Write sentences with by myself, by yourself, etc.
Example:
He stayed home alone. ==> He stayed home by himself.
1. That’s a very nice drawing, Jack – did you draw it all by yourself?
2. I hope you girls can bake that cake by yourselves – I won’t be able to help you.
3. I usually sit by myself in the last row at the theater.
4. You’re going to have to do some weeding if you want some vegetables this year – the garden isn’t going to get weeded by itself, you know.
5. After Grandfather died, Grandmother had six children to take care of by herself.
6. Never mind – I think it’s better if I go to the store by myself, anyway.
7. Jim took a few steps by himself in physical therapy today.
8. The twins are such troublemakers – you can’t leave them by themselves for even a minute.
9. For our anniversary we are planning on staying home and having a quiet dinner by ourselves.
10. Grandmother sewed my sister’s wedding dress all by herself.
11. Building a patio fireplace was an easy project that we could manage by ourselves.
12. Last summer the Griswolds decided to hike the Appalachian Trail by themselves.
13. If you can’t do the homework by yourself, you should ask the teacher for some extra help.
14. Let Tommy tie his shoes by himself – he’s going to have to learn it one of these days.
15. You are big boys now – you should be able to get dressed by yourselves.
16. Come on, now – who broke Grandmother’s antique vase? I’m sure it didn’t get broken by itself!
Exercises. Look at the picture and write sentences using the phrase “each other.”
Example:
(clean) ==> They are cleaning each other.
1. They are chasing each other.
2. They are enjoying each other.
3. They are holding each other.
4. They are kissing each other.
5. They are resting on each other.
6. They are smiling at each other.
Exercises. Complete the sentences, using “each other,” “ourselves/yourselves/themselves,” or “us/you/them.”
Example:
Mr. Brown and Mr. Black know _______. ==> Mr. Brown and Mr. Black know each other.
1. The teacher didn’t ask us if we understood the material.
2. You lazy salesmen have no one but yourselves to blame for your poor monthly figures.
3. Jack knew he had seen his keys earlier that morning, but he couldn’t remember where he had seen them.
4. The students in class 7B never behave themselves, it seems.
5. It was funny to see the two clowns throw pies at each other.
6. Most people talk to themselves, especially when they are trying to figure out a problem. It’s nothing to worry about.
7. There was so much food at the feast that we stuffed ourselves until we couldn’t eat any more.
8. Mr. and Mrs. Smith said to give them a call whenever you got home.
9. Didn’t Father give you the name of the gentleman he wanted you to call?
10. Sit down here next to me, and let’s talk. We can keep each other company until they it’s time for our flight to leave.
11. When we set up the April Fool’s prank, we didn’t realize it would backfire on us.
12. Congratulations, Team 6! Give yourselves a round of applause – you deserve it!
13. If I had wanted you to come to the party, I would have invited you.
14. Sometimes it’s good to remind ourselves of how much progress we’ve made in our English studies.
Grammar Basics: Unit 63 – I, my, me, mine (Solution)
Posted on 2013/03/27
Exercises. Complete the sentences, using the pattern of the following example.
Example:
I asked him _______. ==> I asked him to bring my book home for me.
1. We asked you to bring our books home for us.
2. She asked them to bring her book home for her.
3. He asked me to bring his book home for him.
4. They asked us to bring their books home for them.
5. I asked her to bring my book home for me.
6. You asked him to bring your book home for you.
Exercises. Complete the sentences, using the pattern of the following example.
Example:
I gave him _______. ==> I gave him my business card, and he gave me his.
1. She gave us her business card, and we gave her ours.
2. You gave me your business card, and I gave you mine.
3. We gave him our business cards, and he gave us his.
4. I gave them my business card, and they gave me theirs.
5. He gave her his business card, and she gave him hers.
6. They gave you their business cards, and you gave them yours.
Exercises. Complete the following sentences, using him, her, yours, etc.
Example:
Where’s Waldo? Have you seen _______? ==> Where’s Waldo? Have you seen him?
1. Father was busy, so Jack couldn’t meet him for lunch.
2. The twins played a prank on their teacher.
3. We had to change our plans at the last minute.
4. Have you done your homework?
5. Mike brought his girlfriend to the party.
6. Every morning I take my dog for a walk.
7. Mother wasn’t sure where she left her keys.
8. Why don’t you relax and let me cook for you?
9. I’m sorry – what did you say your name was?
10. Mary wasn’t home, so I left a note for her.
11. Although the team scored well in the second half, it wasn’t enough to help them win the game.
12. Even though we have heard his stories many times before, Mr. Brown is unable to convince us that he was once a star wrestling champ.
Grammar Basics: Unit 62 – Whose is this? It’s mine / yours, etc. (Solution)
Posted on 2013/03/22
Exercises. Complete the following sentences, using one of the possessive pronouns: mine, ours, yours, his, hers, theirs.
Example:
These are my shoes. They’re _______. ==> These are my shoes. They’re mine.
1. This is my sandwich. It’s mine.
2. That is our dog. It’s ours.
3. This is your sweater. It’s yours.
4. These are his books. They’re his.
5. That is their car. It’s theirs.
6. These are her sunglasses. They’re hers.
7. That is their house. It’s theirs.
8. This is our new sofa. It’s ours.
9. That’s my laptop. It’s mine.
10. This is your pen. It’s yours.
11. That is his cell phone. It’s his.
12. Those are her gym shoes. They’re hers.
Exercises. Choose the right form of the possessive.
Example:
Those are not (my/mine) shoes. (My/Mine) are brown. ==> Those are not my shoes. Mine are brown.
1. I’ve met her parents, but I don’t know their names.
2. At whose house do you want to have the surprise party? Yours or ours?
3. Be sure to take your project home. I’ve got mine.
4. My dog is smarter than yours.
5. I took the money out of my pocket and put it in her purse.
6. The Smiths had some old books, so we sold theirs, along with ours, at a garage sale.
7. Whose backpack is this? Yours or hers?
8. The Jones send their children to camp every summer.
9. The teacher reminded us to bring all our books home to study over the holidays.
10. Your garden is bigger than mine, isn’t it?
Exercises. Complete the sentences using the phrase “friend(s) of mine / yours,” etc.
Example:
I saw an old _______ the other day. ==> I saw an old friend of mine the other day.
1. After the show, Jack and Jill went out with some friends of theirs.
2. Mother had lunch with a high school friend of hers.
3. If you gossip about my brother, you’re no friend of mine!
4. When we went out for a walk, we ran into a friend of ours.
5. Once a month, my uncle goes fishing with a friend of his.
6. I was just writing a letter to a friend of mine.
7. Grandmother and Grandfather went on a cruise with some friends of theirs.
8. My sister got into a fight with a friend of hers, and now they’re not talking.
9. Aunt Molly got the recipe from a friend of hers.
10. We asked a friend of ours to take care of our dog while we were on vacation.
Grammar Basics: Unit 61 – My / his /their, etc. (Solution)
Posted on 2013/03/20
Exercises. Use a possessive adjective (my, your, his, hers, its, our, their) to complete the sentences.
Example:
John scratched _______ head. ==> John scratched his head.
1. Jack grabbed the dog by its collar.
2. Mr. and Mrs. Smith showed me their new house.
3. I took off my shoes and ran barefoot through the grass.
4. If you want, you can bring your mother to the party.
5. I told my brother to leave me alone.
6. Somehow the garbage can has lost its lid.
7. We have room in our car, if you’d like to ride with us.
8. Mrs. Brown read her favorite novel every day during lunch.
9. Have you seen my glasses? I can’t find them anywhere.
10. The football player broke his ankle playing tennis.
11. We listened to Mr. Jones practice his speech for the convention.
12. I was disappointed to find out my painting didn’t win a prize.
13. The farmer went to town to sell his pumpkins at the market.
14. Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seat belts.
15. I asked the musician for his autograph.
16. Please put your plate in the sink when you’ve finished eating.
17. We gave our band director a gift when he retired.
18. I thought I told you to clean your room.
19. Jack and Jill announced their engagement at the party last week.
20. Some of the younger boy scouts had trouble setting up their tents.
21. Class, take out your books and turn to page 42.
22. The bride pulled the veil over her face.
23. The empty barrel was tipped over and lying on its side.
24. We haven’t planned our vacation yet.
25. If you get lost, you can always give me a call on your cell phone.
Grammar Basics: Unit 60 – I / me, he / him, etc. (Solution)
Posted on 2013/03/15
Exercise. Complete the sentences, using him, her, or them.
Example:
I don’t know the new Girl Scout leader. Do you know ______? ==> I don’t know the Girl Scout leader. Do you know her?
1. I don’t know those boys. Do you know them?
2. I don’t know Mr. Smith. Do you know him?
3. I don’t know Mary’s aunt. Do you know her?
4. I don’t know baseball coach. Do you know him?
5. I don’t know those people. Do you know them?
6. I don’t know Kevin’s father. Do you know him?
7. I don’t know the man in the blue sweater. Do you know him?
8. I don’t know Mrs. Wilson. Do you know her?
9. I don’t know Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins. Do you know them?
10. I don’t know Uncle Jack’s doctor. Do you know him (her)?
Exercise. Complete the sentences, using I, me, he, him, etc.
Example:
Who is that woman standing by the door? Do you know ______? ==> Who is that woman standing by the door? Do you know her?
1. Mr. Saxon gave us his old rowboat. We are going to use it for fishing at the lake.
2. I can’t find my jeans. Have you washed them?
3. Are you listening to me? I told you I’m taking a vacation next week.
4. Jane is the department secretary. If you need any equipment or materials, she will get them for you.
5. My brother is getting married next month. I need to buy him a wedding present.
6. Mary has been sick all week. We should send her a get-well card.
7. We haven’t finished packing yet. Will you wait for us?
8. I called you last night, but there was no answer. Did you go out?
9. I was late for class, so the teacher marked me tardy.
10. Mr. Smith, do you have some free time? I need to talk to you.
11. Uncle Mike lost his job. He is looking for a new one.
12. Jack and Jill are not allowed to have a puppy yet. They have to learn how to take care of it first.
Exercise. Write sentences using I like…, I don’t like…, or Do you like…?
Example:
I don’t drink coffee. ______. ==> I don’t drink coffee. I don’t like it.
1. I made a chocolate cake for dessert. Do you like it?
2. The history teacher gives too much homework. I don’t like him.
3. These flowers came from our garden. Do you like them?
4. I’m afraid of dogs. I don’t like them.
5. I got my hair cut. Do you like it?
6. Mr. Jones is our neighbor. Do you like him?
7. Those children are mean to us. I don’t like them.
8. The nurse seems like a nice lady. Do you like her?
9. Our cabin has a wonderful view of the lake. I like it.
10. These peaches are so tasty. I like them.
