Animals 動物
BasicTheme words for animals.
- Present continuous: is/are + verb-ing: The tiger is sleeping.
- Keep can mean keep as a pet: I keep a cat.
- Base form after can: can run, can catch.
文體小知識：Learn theme words.
§Text Passage
1Today our class visits the zoo. We see a big tiger sleeping under a tree. The lion is very strong and has long hair. There are small animals too, like the rabbit and the bird. Some monkeys jump from tree to tree and make funny faces.
2My favourite animal is the panda. It sits down and eats bamboo slowly. The bird show is exciting. A big bird flies over our heads and catches a ball.
3At home, I keep a cat and two fish. My friend Tom has a clever dog. It can run very fast and catch a ball. I would like to have a rabbit one day. Animals make us happy, so we must be kind to them. After the visit, our teacher asks us to draw our favourite animal. I draw a panda with a big smile. I hope we can come back again next year.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Today our class visits the zoo.
今日我們班去參觀動物園。
We see a big tiger sleeping under a tree.
我們見到一隻大老虎在樹下面睡覺。
The lion is very strong and has long hair.
那隻獅子很強壯，還有長長的鬃毛。
There are small animals too, like the rabbit and the bird.
還有些小小的動物，好像兔子同雀鳥。
Some monkeys jump from tree to tree and make funny faces.
有些猴子在樹同樹之間跳來跳去，還做鬼臉。
My favourite animal is the panda.
我最喜歡的動物是熊貓。
It sits down and eats bamboo slowly.
他會坐下慢慢吃竹。
The bird show is exciting.
雀鳥表演好精彩。
A big bird flies over our heads and catches a ball.
一隻大鳥在我們頭頂飛過，還接住了一個球。
At home, I keep a cat and two fish.
在家，我養了一隻貓同兩條魚。
My friend Tom has a clever dog.
我朋友 Tom 有一隻很聰明的狗。
It can run very fast and catch a ball.
他跑得好快，還會接球。
I would like to have a rabbit one day.
我希望有一天可以養一隻兔子。
Animals make us happy, so we must be kind to them.
動物令我們開心，所以我們一定要愛護他們。
After the visit, our teacher asks us to draw our favourite animal.
參觀完之後，老師叫我們畫自己最喜歡的動物。
I draw a panda with a big smile.
我畫了一隻笑著的熊貓。
I hope we can come back again next year.
我希望明年可以再來。
1Summary 重點摘要
Theme words for animals.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
A small pet that says meow.
A pet that barks.
An animal with wings that flies.
An animal that lives in water.
A small animal with long ears.
A big striped wild cat.
A big wild cat with a mane.
A black and white bear from China.
3Step by step Steps
- Paragraph 1: at the zooA big tiger sleeping under a tree: the -ing word shows the tiger is asleep right now, and the whole phrase describes the tiger. The lion is very strong and has long hair joins two verbs with and — is for looks, has for features; the lion is singular, so has takes s. Tip: hair is uncountable; write long hair with no s.
- Actions in progressUse is or are + verb-ing for actions happening now: The tiger is sleeping; The birds are flying. Singular subjects take is, plural subjects take are, and the -ing form never changes. Tip: do not drop be — The tiger sleeping is not a full sentence; note that swim becomes swimming with a double m.
- Paragraph 2: my favouriteMy favourite animal is the panda names the top choice; favourite means best liked. It sits down and eats bamboo slowly: it is singular, so sits and eats both take s; and joins two actions; slowly sits at the end and tells how it eats. Tip: give every verb its s, not just the first one.
- Paragraph 2 again: the bird showThe bird show is exciting: exciting describes a thing that thrills us. A big bird flies over our heads and catches a ball — over means above and across, catches means grabs it in the air. The subject is singular, so both verbs take s. Tip: catch ends in ch, so it needs es; excited is for people, exciting for things.
- Paragraph 3: animals at homeI keep a cat and two fish: keep here means to look after as pets, and fish has the same plural form, so two fish. My friend Tom has a clever dog — friend is singular, so has. It can run very fast and catch a ball: after can, both verbs stay in the base form. Tip: never put to after can.
- keep means 養 hereKeep usually means not to stop, as in keep quiet; in I keep a cat it means to look after an animal. I would like to have a rabbit one day expresses a wish; would like to is politer than want to, and one day points to sometime in the future. Tip: would like is always followed by to + base verb.
- Sentence practiceUse the two frames: My favourite animal is ___. fills in the animal; It can ___. fills in one skill, such as It can run very fast or It can climb trees. Together they make a mini profile; add It is... for looks. Tip: keep the verb after can in the base form, and climb trees sounds natural with the plural.
5Worked example Example
Animal cards: four sentences using the present continuous, can and keep, then a line-by-line grammar check.
- Sentence 1 (now): The panda is eating bamboo slowly. Panda is singular, so is; eat becomes eating; slowly ends the line.
- Sentence 2 (skill): My friend's dog can run very fast. After can, run stays in the base form.
- Sentence 3 (pets): I keep a cat and two fish. keep means look after; fish has the same plural form.
- Sentence 4 (wish): I would like to have a rabbit one day. would like to + base verb sounds polite.
- Check: does is/are match the subject? Is the verb after can in the base form? Does keep carry the pet meaning?
- Answer: The panda is eating bamboo slowly. My friend’s dog can run very fast. I keep a cat and two fish. I would like to have a rabbit one day.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What is the tiger doing?
Q2How does the panda eat bamboo?
Q3What does the big bird do in the show?
Q4What can Tom’s dog do?
Q5What would I like to have one day?
8Recap Recap
- Present continuous: is/are + verb-ing: The tiger is sleeping.
- Keep can mean keep as a pet: I keep a cat.
- Base form after can: can run, can catch.
- Fish never changes: two fish.
- Say wishes with: I would like to have ... one day.