Special occasions are events that people celebrate to mark an important moment, tradition, or festivity. These can include birthdays, national holidays, cultural festivals, and religious events. Knowing how to talk about these occasions allows you to describe their significance, the date they occur, and how they are celebrated.
In this lesson, you will learn to describe when special occasions happen, talk about customs, and explain typical activities associated with celebrations. You’ll also practice grammar structures to express time and habits, along with useful vocabulary to discuss celebrations.
GRAMMAR
1. Talking about Time
- Use the prepositions on, in, and at to talk about when events happen:
- On: for specific days and dates.
Example: "Christmas is on December 25th." - In: for months, years, centuries, and long periods.
Example: "The festival is in August." - At: for specific times.
Example: "The party starts at 6 PM."
- On: for specific days and dates.
2. Using the Simple Present for Habits or Customs
- The simple present is used to describe habits or routines related to celebrations.
Examples:- "We light candles during Diwali."
- "People give gifts on birthdays."
3. Adverbs of Frequency
- Use words like always, usually, often, sometimes, and never to describe how often you celebrate or follow traditions.
Examples:- "We always have a big dinner on New Year’s Eve."
- "They sometimes travel for Christmas."
4. Expressing Likes and Preferences
- Use like, love, enjoy, prefer to talk about activities you enjoy during celebrations.
Examples:- "I like eating cake on my birthday."
- "She prefers watching fireworks on New Year’s Eve."
VOCABULARY
Occasion: A special event or time.
Example: "A wedding is a joyful occasion."Tradition: A custom or way of doing something passed down through generations.
Example: "It’s a tradition to open presents on Christmas morning."Celebrate: To do something special for a significant event.
Example: "We celebrate our anniversary every year."Festival: A series of events or activities to mark a special occasion.
Example: "The lantern festival is in February."Fireworks: Explosions in the sky, usually colorful, used for celebrations.
Example: "We watched fireworks on New Year’s Eve."Custom: A common way of behaving or a tradition.
Example: "It’s a custom to shake hands when greeting someone."Feast: A large meal for a special occasion.
Example: "We had a feast for Thanksgiving."Decorations: Items used to make a place look festive.
Example: "We put up decorations for Halloween."Ceremony: A formal event for a special purpose.
Example: "The graduation ceremony was beautiful."Anniversary: A date to remember an important event that happened in the past.
Example: "Today is their wedding anniversary."
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
- "This celebration happens in..."
- "It is celebrated on..."
- "People usually..."
- "We always..."
- "It’s a tradition to..."
- "During this occasion, we..."
- "One of the customs is to..."
- "Everyone gathers to..."
- "The event takes place at..."
- "It’s an important day because..."
SENTENCES
Positive Sentences
- "People celebrate Christmas on December 25th."
- "We usually eat turkey during Thanksgiving."
- "My family decorates the house for Diwali."
Negative Sentences
- "We don’t celebrate Halloween in my country."
- "People never work on New Year’s Day."
- "They don’t organize parades for this occasion."
Questions
- "When do you celebrate New Year’s Eve?"
- "What do you do during Easter?"
- "How do people celebrate Independence Day?"
Answers
- "We celebrate it on December 31st."
- "We usually visit family and have dinner."
- "People celebrate with fireworks and parties."
CONVERSATION
Scene: Two friends talking about a special occasion.
Maria: Hey, when is Independence Day in your country?
John: It’s on July 4th. How about yours?
Maria: Ours is on July 28th. How do you celebrate?
John: We usually have parades, fireworks, and barbecues. What about you?
Maria: We celebrate with traditional dances, food, and military parades. It’s a big day for us!
John: That sounds amazing. I’d love to see it one day.
READING
"Celebrating New Year’s Around the World"
New Year’s Eve is a time to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one. Different countries celebrate this special occasion in unique ways.
In the United States, people gather with friends and family to watch the famous ball drop in Times Square, New York. At midnight, fireworks light up the sky, and everyone shouts, "Happy New Year!"
In Spain, people eat twelve grapes at midnight, one for each chime of the clock. This tradition is believed to bring good luck for the new year.
In Japan, families clean their homes before New Year’s Day. This custom, called "Oosouji," symbolizes a fresh start. On New Year’s Eve, people eat soba noodles, which represent long life and good fortune.
No matter where you are, New Year’s is a time to celebrate, reflect, and hope for a wonderful year ahead.
Questions and Answers
Q: What do people in the United States do on New Year’s Eve?
A: They watch the ball drop in Times Square and enjoy fireworks.Q: Why do people in Spain eat twelve grapes at midnight?
A: They believe it brings good luck for the new year.Q: What is "Oosouji" in Japan?
A: It is the custom of cleaning homes before New Year’s Day to symbolize a fresh start.Q: What do soba noodles represent in Japan?
A: They represent long life and good fortune.Q: Why is New Year’s Eve special?
A: It marks the end of the old year and the beginning of a new one.
0 Comments