Talking about Christmas

Christmas Vocabulary:

Christmas Tree	Bulbs	Ornaments
Presents	Christmas Wreath	Chimney
Fireplace	Christmas Stockings	Eggnog
Ginger Bread Man	Ginger Bread House	Christmas Lights
Christmas Cookies	Candy Cane	Sitting on Santa’s Lap
Writing a Letter to Santa	Coal	Reindeer
Sleigh	Mistletoe	Carolers
Christmas Eve	Christmas Day

1. On _________________________ we will celebrate Christmas Eve.
2. Many people hang Christmas Wreath on their front doors.
3. Santa comes down the sleigh and leaves coal for the kids that have been naughty.
4. We decorate the Christmas tree with ornaments, bulbs and lights.
5. Candy cane is a red and white, mint flavored candy.
6. If you are under mistletoe you have to kiss the person you are with.
7. Carolers are people that come to the door and sing Christmas songs.
8. Santa flies in the sky in his ________________ that is pulled by _____________________.

We give presents for family and friends.

Christmas Eve is celebrated  on December 24th.

Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25th.

Questions you can ask others about their Christmas:

• What's your favourite day?
• What happens on the day?
• Where do you go? What do you do?
• Do you eat special food?
• Do you wear special clothes?
• Do you give presents?
• Do you decorate your house?
• What did you do on Christmas Day?
• What did you do on Christmas Eve?
• What did you get for Christmas?
• Did Santa come to your house?

These are some sentence starters to help you talk about holidays.


On Christmas Eve, I ______________________.
On Christmas Day, I ______________________.
I went to ___________________ on Christmas Eve.
I went to ___________________ on Christmas Day.
My _________ cooked ________ on Christmas.
In my country, we _________________________ on Christmas.
I got _____________ for Christmas.
I gave my mother  ______________________ for Christmas.
Every Christmas, we ________________________.
Every year at Christmas time, I __________________________________.
We open gifts on __________________________.

 
Example Sentences:
I went to my uncle’s house on Christmas Eve.
My friends came to my house on Christmas Day.
Every year, we decorate a Christmas tree.
We always go to a movie on Christmas Day.
My family cooked beef for Christmas.
I baked cookies for my Grandmother on Christmas.
I got a puppy from my boyfriend for Christmas.
I gave my father a book for Christmas.
We go to Church every Christmas at 10pm.
In my country, we have fireworks on Christmas Eve.
In my country, we do not exchange gifts on Christmas.
In my county, we party until 5am on Christmas and New Years.
Children write a letter to Santa telling himm what presents they want and if they have been good boys/girls the past year because if they have been naughty Santa gives them coal.

 My favourite holiday is New Year. On this day Santa Clause comes in and gives me some presents. I go to the town's biggest square where we have our New Year Tree, and have some fun with my parents. I never go carol singing. I don't send any cards.
I usually eat some cake. On this day I wear a beautiful dress. I sometimes give presents to my parents. I decorate my New Year tree with baubles, tinsel and lights.

My favorite day is the three Kings day (6th January). Children get presents at this day. It is very funny!!!!!

December 25th is Christmas Day. It's a holiday for most people, and there are lots of customs and traditions, and children get lots of presents!

 

Christmas Eve refers to the night before Christmas. Eve refers to evening, and Christmas Eve is usually a time you get together with your family. Sometimes families have a big dinner. Sometimes you get together with friends, but for children Christmas Eve is when Santa comes, so it is very important for children to put cookies and milk out for Santa so when he comes and delivers presents, he has something to eat. 

One of the more popular cookies of Christmas is the gingerbread cookie with a shape of a person decorated with frosting and candy. They have a very unique taste and we usually only eat gingerbread cookies at Christmas. 

Having Christmas lights is really popular. The tradition is to decorate the house with lights. We often put lots of colorful Christmas lights on the outside of our house, and some people do different colors. Some people just do white lights, but it's really popular in America. Some people actually leave the lights on until February. We also decorate our house with a Christmas tree with christmas tree balls on.

On Christmas morning some people go to church. They go to Christmas Service. For Catholics it's called Christmas Mass and they go and they celebrate the birth of Jesus, which is the reason why we have Christmas, basically, the reason for the holiday.

Another morning tradition usually is to open gifts. Usually, the children run down and they check the gifts under the tree, but to see what they have for Christmas they have to wait for their parents. 

Another tradition for Christmas is the nativity scene that people have in their house to celebtrate Christmas. The nativity scene is the scene that has the story of Christmas so it would be basically a 'Joseph' and a 'Mary' and then 'The Baby Jesus' and then sometimes 'The Three Wise Men'.

EXERCISE: The Present Continuous and Present Simple Tenses

Put the verb in brackets in the correct form, either the Present Simple Tense or the Present Continuous Tense.

1. I ---readam reading a very interesting book.
   
2. Joanne ---worksis working eight hours a day.
   
3. Tonight we ---seeare seeing a play at the thereatre.
   
4. Who ---do you speakare you speaking to?
   
5. I ---don't knowam not knowing him very well.
   
6. What will you do if she ---comesis coming late?
   
7. My wife ---prefersis prefering coffee for breakfast.
   
8. What ---do you usually haveare you usually having for breakfast?
   
9. Your train ---leavesis leaving at 17.25 from platform 3.
   
10. What ---does Josephine dois Josephine doing? She's a student.

Answers:

1. I ---readam reading a very interesting book.
   
2. Joanne ---worksis working eight hours a day.
   
3. Tonight we ---seeare seeing a play at the thereatre.
   
4. Who ---do you speakare you speaking to?
   
5. I ---don't knowam not knowing him very well.
   
6. What will you do if she ---comesis coming late?
   
7. My wife ---prefersis prefering coffee for breakfast.
   
8. What ---do you usually haveare you usually having for breakfast?
   
9. Your train ---leavesis leaving at 17.25 from platform 3.
   
10. What ---does Josephine dois Josephine doing? She's a student.

GRAMMAR: The Present Continuous and Present Simple Tenses

Permanent (usual) and Temporary (now, around now) actions. We use the Present Continuous tense to speak about things which are happening now or things which are temporary.I am not working now. I am on holiday. Sally is listening to a new CD. Who are you phoning? The Present Simple tense describes usual, repeated and permanent things - for example, always, usually, often, sometimes, never.I work as an accountant. John doesn't know German. How often do you play tennis? Compare how these two tenses are used.Why are you walking to work? Don't you usually go by bus? I live in Kharkiv, but now I am living in Moscow. Usually we have dinner at 7, but today we are having it at 9.

Some verbs are not normally used in the Continuous Tense. They are called "state" verbs. If you need to practice such verbs, visit English Action and State Verbs page.

Present Continuous and Present Simple to talk about the future.

• We use the Present Continuous Tense for plans and arrangements.What are you doing tonight?
  I'm seeing a very important customer in my office at 4 o'clock.
  We are going to the see for our holiday.
  Where are you staying in Vienna?
  I'm not going anywhere. It is final.
• We use the Present Simple in the conditional clauses after if, when, as soon as, until etc, and when we talk about timetable, schedules, itineraries etc.What will you do if you fail your exam?
  We will wait, until she comes.
  
  My plane takes off at 9.00.
  The President arrives in Norway on 17 September.
  What time does your train leave?

EXERCISE: English Action and State verbs

Choose the correct form of the verb depending on whether in this meaning it is an action or a state verb. If both the Present Continuous and the Present Simple tenses are possible, use the Present Continuous tense.

1.    a) Why are you smelling the soup?
      b) Why do you smell the soup?
   
   
2.    a) She was feeling his arm on her shoulder.
      b) She felt his arm on her shoulder.
   
   
3.    a) Are you having an English dictionary?
      b) Do you have an English dictionary?
   
   
4.    a) What are you thinking about?
      b) What do you think about?
   
   
5.    a) I am feeling much better today.
      b) I feel much better today.
   
   
6.    a) What are you looking at?
      b) What do you look at?
   
   
7.    a) I am not hearing you.
      b) I can't hear you.
   
   
8.    a) What are you thinking of me?
      b) What do you think of me?
   
   
9.    a) I am feeling we should go home now.
      b) I feel we should go home now.
   
   
10.    a) This bread is tasting funny.
       b) This bread tastes funny.

Found via: Electricenglish.

English Action and State verbs

In English language there are verbs that are not normally used in the Continuous Tense, because they describe rather state than an action. They are called state verb (stative verbs, non-progressive verbs). The verbs that can be used in the Continuous Tense are called action verbs (dynamic verbs). Some verbs can be both state and action verbs depending on their meaning. Here are some verbs that are not normally used in the Continuous Tense. like dislike love hate prefer remember forget believe mean seem understand want need know belong own Here are some a few verbs that can be both state and action verbs depending on their meaning. I think you made a mistake. think = believe I am thinking about my mum now. think = mental process I have two cars. have = possess, own I am having my lunch now. have = eat I am seeing my friend tomorrow evening. see = meeting with I see what you mean.See = understand

These English verbs are action verbs, state verbs, or can be both action and state verbs.

enjoy	---actionstateboth		read	---actionstateboth
weigh	---actionstateboth		feel	---actionstateboth
mind	---actionstateboth		prefer	---actionstateboth
smell	---actionstateboth		hear	---actionstateboth
play	---actionstateboth		burn	---actionstateboth
matter	---actionstateboth		measure	---actionstateboth
contain	---actionstateboth		agree	---actionstateboth
look	---actionstateboth		worry	---actionstateboth

Found via: Electricenglish.

EXERCISE: Present continuous

Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Exercise 1: Positive sentences

Example: I (listen) to you.

1. The train to Glasgow (leave) from platform 8.
2. I (begin) to understand the Present Continuous now.
3. Sue (work) tonight.
4. Listen! The telephone (ring).
5. Ms. Johnson (see) a customer at 3 o'clock.

Answers

1. The train to Glasgow ---is leaving (leave) from platform 8.
2. I ---'m beginning (begin) to understand the Present Continuous now.
3. Sue ---is working (work) tonight.
4. Listen! The telephone---'s ringing (ring).
5. Ms. Johnson ---is seeing (see) a customer at 3 o'clock.

Exercise 2: Negative sentences
Example: We the television.

1. My Dad (not have) his lunch now.
2. The kids (not study) tomorrow.
3. It (not rain) today.
4. I (not study) German.
5. We (not go) to Egypt on summer holiday.

Answers

1. My Dad ---isn't having (not have) his lunch now.
2. The kids ---aren't studying (not study) tomorrow.
3. It ---isn't raining (not rain) today.
4. I---'m not studying (not study) German.
5. We ---aren't going (not go) to Egypt on summer holiday.

Exercise 3: Questions sentences

Example: (you listen) to me?

1. (it start) to rain?
2. (Sue study) to become a doctor?
3. (you take) your daughter with you?
4. (the dog play) with the kids?
5. (they come) tonight?

Answers

1. ---Is it starting (it start) to rain?
2. ---Is Sue studying (Sue study) to become a doctor?
3. ---Are you taking (you take) your daughter with you?
4. ---Is the dog playing (the dog play) with the kids?
5. ---Are they coming (they come) tonight?

Exercise 4: Information questions

1. What company (you work) for?
2. What class (they study) in?
3. Who (John shake) hands with?
4. What time (your friends come)?
5. What country (they visit) at the moment?

Answers

1. What company ---are you working (you work) for?
2. What class ---are they studying (they study) in?
3. Who ---is John shaking (John shake) hands with?
4. What time ---are your friends coming (your friends come)?
5. What country ---are they visiting (they visit) at the moment?

EXERCISE: Present Continuous

What uses of the Present Continuous Tense do these sentences have?

• Now
• Around now
• Future

1. I am playing football tonight. 
2. I can't play with you now. I am finishing my homework. 
3. Where are you studying? 
4. What are you doing these days? Working? 
5. Sally is taking a bath. 
6. What are you doing at the weekend? 
7. Peter and Mary are going out. They met at Adam's party last week. 

Answers:
1. Future
2. Now
3. Around now
4. Around now
5. Now
6. Future
7. Around now

GRAMMAR: The Present Continuous Tense

1. We use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities happening now.

Examples 
   The kids are watching TV.
   I am sitting down, because I am tired.
   I am not learning German, because this is an English class.
   Who are you writing to?

2. We can also use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities happening around now, and not necessarily this very moment.

Examples 
   Sally is studying really hard for her exams this week.
   I am reading a really interesting book now.
   How are you brushing up on your English for the trip?
   We aren't working hard these days.

3. The Present Continuous Tense is also used to talk about activities happening in the near future, especially for planned future events.

Examples 
   I am seeing my dentist on Wednesday.
   Polly is coming for dinner tomorrow.
   Are you doing anything tonight?
   We aren't going on holiday next week.



 Positive Sentences

---

We make the Present Continuous tense with the correct form of the verb to be (am/is/are) and the ing form of the main verb. I 'm playing football. You 're standing up. He 's listening to music. She 's swimming. It 's playing with the ball. We 're going home. They 're running.

Negative Sentences

---

I 'm not playing football. You aren't standing up. He isn't listening to music. She isn't swimming. It isn't playing with the ball. We aren't going home. They aren't running.

Yes/No Questions

---

Am I doing it right? Are you listening to me? Is he working today? Is she speaking Chinese? Is it working? Are we going home now? Are they watching TV?

 Information Questions

---

Information questions are also sometimes called "Wh" questions.

What	am	I	doing?
Where	are	you	living now?
Who	is	he	speaking to?
When	is	she	coming?
What	is	it	doing here?
When	are	we	having the test?
What	are	they	watching?

Found via: Electricenglish.

The Present Continuous Tense - The ING Form Of The Verbs

1. Usually we add ing

work	working
stand	standing
learn	learning

speak                       speaking

go                            going
listen                       listening
eat                          eating
wear                        wearing
study                       studying


2. When the verb ends in an e, we drop the e and add ing

come	coming
have	having
write	writing

skate                        skating
smile                        smiling
take                         taking
live                          living
leave                       leaving

* but see  seeing

2. If a one syllable (with only one vowel sound) verb ends in one consonant (for example p, t, r) that follows one vowel (for example a, o, e), we double the consonant.

swim	swimming
get	getting
stop	stopping

run                            running
sit                             sitting
begin                        beginning
 

3. Some verbs have irregular ing form

lie	lying
die	dying
travel	Br. travelling Am. traveling

ski                             skiing
chat                          chatting     

GRAMMAR: Adverbs of frecuency

Adverbs of indefinite frequency tell us how often something happens.

Common examples are:   always, ever, usually, normally, often, frequently, seldom, never

Position of AdverbsAdverbs of indefinite frequency go in mid position. They are normally placed after the auxiliary verbs and before other verbs. When there are two auxiliary verbs, the adverb goes after the first.

Examples:

a. I always get up early.    (adverb + main verb)

b. I am seldom late for work.    (is/am/are/was/were + adverb)

c. We frequently visit them.    (adverb + main verb)

d. I often read comics.    (adverb + main verb)

e. I have never seen a dolphin.    (auxiliary verb + adverb + main verb)

NOTES:1. Usually, normally, often, frequently, sometimes and occasionally can also go at the beginning or end of a clause.Examples:

a. We visit them occasionally.

b. Often we trust the wrong person.


2. Always, ever, rarely*, seldom* and never can go only in mid position. (exception* look #3)
Examples:

a. They never admitted their fault.

b. You can always trust him.


However, always and never can begin imperative clauses.
Examples:

a. Always look before you leap.

b. Never ask her about her age.


3. Rarely and seldom can also go at the end of a sentence (often with "very"):
Examples:

a. We see them rarely.

b. John eats meat very seldom.


Found via: Tx.english-ch

EXERCISE: Auxiliary verbs

Choose the correct answer: 


I'm not coming tomorrow,___ I?
is
do
am
should

___ you seen the Mona Lisa?
Do
Has
Can
Have

___ your family celebrate Easter?
Does
Do
Has
Have

They ___ opened yet.
did
don't
haven't
hasn't

___ everyone ready?
Are
Has
Does
Is

The Russian tourists ___ in the museum.
had
were
been
is

Which floor ___ they live on?
do
are
does
is

I'm using your pen, ___ I?
aren't
is
isn't
was

She ___ already finished the project before he asked for it.
had
is
have
has

He ___ brought it yet
hasn't
has
had
haven't

GRAMMAR: Auxiliary verbs

Auxiliary verbs are known as 'helping verbs'.


helping verb + main verb = verb phrase


* The three most common auxiliary verbs are:

be, do and have


Be can be used as an auxiliary verb or the main verb in a sentence.

Be is also used to make passives.

Is tells us that an action is happening now or is going to happen in the future.

Are is used for they and we.

Was is used for the past tense of am and is.

Were is used for the past tense of you, we and they.


In statements:

I am 21.

You are Indian.

We are waiting.

They are excited

He/she is cool.


In questions:

Am I in the right place?

Are you my new boss?

Are we nearly there?

Are they the best players on the team?

Is he/she old enough to go to bars?

In negative sentences:

I am not. (I aren't)

You are not. (you aren't)

We are not. (we aren't)

They are not. (they aren't)

He/she is not. (he/she isn't)


 Form progressive tenses with the auxiliary verb be.
All progressive tenses use a form of be. Present progressive follows this pattern:

am, is, or are + present participle

Use the present progressive tense to convey an action or condition happening right now or frequently.

I am baking chocolate-broccoli muffins today.

Am = auxiliary verb; baking = present participle completing the verb phrase.

Alex is sitting at the kitchen table, anticipating his first bite.

Is = auxiliary verb; sitting = present participle completing the verb phrase.

Alex must wait a while longer because the muffins are cooling by the window.

Are = auxiliary verb; cooling = present participle completing the verb phrase.

Impatient Alex is always waiting to taste whatever I cook.

Is = auxiliary verb; waiting = present participle completing the verb phrase.


* Other common auxiliary verbs are:

can, could, may, might, must, ought, should, wouldThese are also known as modal verbs. We use them to show obligation, possibility and necessity.

For example:

Jack is late. He might be sleeping. (possibility)

I should clean my room today. (obligation)

I must wear a tie to school. (necessity)



Examples:

be1    She is the boss
be2    He is sleeping
be3    Hamlet was written by Shakespeare

have   They have understood

do    You did not understand

shall    You shall not pass
 

will    We will eat pie
would  Nothing would accomplish that 

can1    I can swim
can2   Such things can help

could1    I could swim
could2    That could help

may1    May I stay?
may2    That may take place



**********************************************************************************************

TO BE: (Ser/Estar)

Se usa para la forma progresiva o contínua y la voz pasiva.

 

















TO HAVE: (Tener/ Haber)

Se usa para la formación de los tiempos compuestos de pasado.

 

 
DO - DID:
Son auxiliares para las formas interrogativas y negativas de Presente Simple y Pasado Simple.

SHALL - WILL: 
a) Se usan para formar el futuro y sus pasados: shall, para las primeras personas del singular y plural; will, para las restantes;

b) En la forma interrogativa Will you? equivale a ¿Quieres?

 
SHOULD - WOULD: 
Se usan para formar los condicionales: should para las primeras personas del singular y plural; would, para las restantes.

 
LET: Se usa para la tercera persona del singular y plural, y primera del plural del imperativo.

GRAMMAR: The verb to be

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