THE USA CULTURE

HOLIDAYS

Holidays are special days. Most holidays are days to remember important people and events. In the United States, there is a holiday in almost every month of the year.

Banks, offices and schools do not open on some holidays. These days are national holidays. Most people do not work and students do not go to school on national holidays. Three national holidays in the United States are Independence Day. President’s Day and Labor Day.

Some holidays are special religious days. Christmas and Easter are important religious holidays. Some holidays are festivals from other countries. Immigrants brought the celebration of Chinese New Year and Mardi Grass to the United States many years ago. Now many American enjoy these holidays every year.

A holiday is usually a time for a happy celebration. People have parties or picnics with friends on some holidays. On other holidays people stay at home and celebrate with their families.

Everybody likes a holiday. Don’t you?

SMILE ALWAYS

A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give. ~Author Unknown


It takes a lot of work from the face to let out a smile, but just think what good smiling can bring to the most important muscle of the body... the heart. ~Author Unknown

A GRAMMAR MATTER

People, I am posting today a grammar matter. I think it is very good for your knowledge.

THERE BE

There be is a verb formed by the Word there – lá in Portuguese – and the verb be - ser/estar in Portuguese. When these two words are together, it becomes the verb there be – haver/ter in Portuguese.
The verb THERE BE works with the rules of the VERB TO BE:
THERE IS – with singular words;
THERE ARE – with plural words.

EXAMPLES:
There is a yellow car on the corner.
There is a man on the roof.
There is a train at 10:30.
There are many cars on the street.
There are seven days in a week.
There are some big trees in the garden.

GIVE YOUR OWN EXAMPLE

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As we are using the VERB TO BE rules it is important to pay attention to the interrogative and negative forms:

There is a yellow car on the corner.
Is there a yellow car on the corner?
There isn’t a yellow car on the corner.

PUT YOUR EXAMPLES IN THE INTERROGATIVE AND NEGATIVE:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

EXERCISES:

1. Kenham is a small town. Look at the information in the box and write sentences about Kenham with THERE IS/THERE ARE:

a) a castle – no --------------------------------------------There isn’t a castle.
b) any restaurants – yes (a lot) ------------------------There are a lot of restaurants.
c) a hospital – yes ----------------------------------------
d) a swimming pool – no -------------------------------
e) any cinemas – yes (two)------------------------------
f) a university – no ---------------------------------------
g) any big hotels – no. ------------------------------------

REMEMBERING

DAYS OF THE WEEK

ON
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

MONTHS OF THE YEAR
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

My birthday is in December.
My birthday is on December 31st.