Everyday English Examples: Letters and Conversations
Letter to Mother: News Update
Dear Mother,
How are you? I am writing to tell you my news. Guess what? I have a small apartment and it’s very nice. The neighborhood where I live is quiet; it’s not noisy. As well, I enrolled in a karate school and it’s fantastic! I’m learning to speak English and French, and I’m also taking lessons to drive a car. The food here is delicious.
Well, that’s all for now. Say hello to everyone.
Take care, Mother. I love you.
Conversation: Describing Homes and Neighborhoods
J: Hello Eli, how are you?
E: Hi Janet, I’m fine, and you?
J: I’m fine. Where do you live?
E: In the suburbs. And you?
J: In the downtown area. What is your house like?
E: It’s made with sturdy materials.
J: I see. And how many rooms do you have?
E: There are five bedrooms and a living room.
J: Do you have furniture in the house?
E: Yes, I have a lot of furniture.
J: Great! Does it have a balcony?
E: Yes, it has a balcony.
J: Are there buildings in the neighborhood?
E: There are no buildings.
J: I see, that’s good.
E: Yes, it’s much better.
J: Do you like your neighborhood?
E: Yes, I like it.
J: Are there parks in your neighborhood?
E: No, there are no parks around this place.
J: Okay, see you!
E: Okay, bye-bye!
English Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
Verb Endings (-ing)
- If a verb ends in ‘e’, replace ‘e’ with ‘-ing’ (e.g., drive -> driving).
- If a verb ends in a single vowel + consonant, double the final consonant and add ‘-ing’ (e.g., stop -> stopping).
- If a verb ends in ‘ie’, replace ‘ie’ with ‘y’ and add ‘-ing’ (e.g., die -> dying).
Prepositions of Place
- In front of
- Next to
- Under
- Behind
- In
- Above
- Below
- On
- Across from
- Between
Possessives
Possessive Adjectives
my, your, his, her, its, our, your, their (No article used before these)
Possessive Pronouns
mine, yours, his, hers, ours, yours, theirs (Used to answer ‘Whose?’ – typically pronoun + verb)
Articles: A, An, The
- A / An: Use when mentioning something for the first time. Do not use with plural nouns.
- The: Use when talking about something unique or specific.
Weather Vocabulary
- Foggy: Nublado (misty)
- Chilly: Menos frío (cool)
- Cold: Frío
- Warm: Templado
- Hot: Cálido
- Sunny: Soleado
- Cloudy: Nublado
- Rain: Lluvia
- Wind: Viento
- Snowing: Nevando
- Fall / Autumn: Otoño
Letter: Job News from Chernobyl
Dear Mom,
How are you? I hope you’re fine. Guess what! I have some great news. I have a wonderful job in a nuclear plant in Chernobyl. The weather here is beautiful. It has a pool where people can relax after work. I live in the suburbs. My house is made of mixed materials (concrete, bricks, and wood). It’s a big house. I’m learning to speak Russian. The people here are friendly. I’ll send you some pictures of the city.
Well, that’s all for now.
Take care, Mom. Bye for now.
Conversation: Describing a Minecraft House
Ed: Hey, hey Arnold, check this out!
Arnold: What is that?
Ed: It’s my house in Minecraft.
Arnold: What is Minecraft?
Ed: It’s a game where you can build your house.
Arnold: It looks interesting.
Ed: This is my bedroom. Look! The bed is next to the nightstand.
Arnold: Looks fantastic! But this closet should be in front of the bed.
Ed: Okay, I’m thinking of putting a painting next to the closet.
Arnold: Do you have a rug?
Ed: Yes, I do.
Arnold: You can put the rug across from the bed.
Ed: Looks great!
Arnold: My TV is above the closet.
Ed: What about this room?
Arnold: Looks good.