Explorations 1 Grammar for the Experienced Beginner

At the end of this chapter you should be able to:

Recognize and use the BE verb

• in the affirmative and negative
• with contractions
• with yes/no questions and short answers
• with information questions

and use parts of speech to construct simple sentences

Prepare Directions:

Ask your partner the following questions. Write down the answers so you can report back to the class

1. What’s your name?
2. How old are you?
3. Where are you from?
4. What language(s) do you speak?
5. What do you miss about your country?
6. Where do you live now (city, town, or rural area)?
7. Do you live in an apartment, house, mobile home, or something else?
8. Please describe where you live. What do you see when you look out the window? Is there a yard, trees, plants, a sidewalk, a street, buildings, or something else?

Now introduce your partner to your group or the whole class. Use the information you learned about your partner. Use the BE verb and other verbs.

Directions: Read this story out loud with a partner. One person reads a paragraph, then the other person reads the next paragraph. When you are finished, read the story again. This time, read the paragraphs that you did not read.

Ana & Pedro

I am Ana. I am from Guatemala. I am 20 years old. My brother, Pedro is here too. Pedro is 19 years old. We both study English at CCC. We are Spanish-speakers. Pedro and I have black hair and black eyes. We are not tall, and we are not thin. We are average in height and weight.

We live with our aunt and uncle. We live in an apartment near a park. Our apartment is on the ground floor. There is a patio outside our back door. Next to the patio is the park. There are paths for walking and a playground for kids. It is really nice. We are outside on sunny days. However, there are not many trees! On hot days, there is not much shade.

We like Oregon, but we are homesick for Guatemala. We are not really “sick”. We just miss our country and its culture. Our mom is in Guatemala. She is a great “pupusa” cook. Pupusas are a thick corn tortilla filled with beans and meat. We are homesick for her and her cooking. We are also tired of the cold! We prefer a warmer climate. However, we like the green trees and blue skies of Oregon. The people are so nice, too! Oregonians are friendly and helpful people.

Directions: Ask and answer the following questions with your partner. Do you or your partner have anything in common with Ana and Pedro? Be prepared to discuss what you learn about Ana and Pedro with the class.

1. Who are Ana and Pedro?
2. Where are they from?
3. Where do they live now?
4. Who do Ana and Pedro live with?
5. Describe Ana and Pedro’s living situation. What is near their apartment?
6. What do they miss in their country?
7. What do they like about Oregon?
8. What don’t they like about Oregon?