Family 家庭
BasicTheme words for family members.
- Use at before clock times: at seven o’clock.
- Family as one group is singular: My family goes ...
- Two people joined by and take no s: My brother and I wash ...
文體小知識：Learn theme words.
§Text Passage
1Every Sunday, my family goes to my grandmother's home for dinner. My father drives us there in his old car. My mother cooks fried rice with grandmother in the kitchen. My little brother plays with the dog in the garden.
2My sister helps grandmother set the table. Grandfather tells us funny stories about his school days. My uncle brings a big fruit cake from the shop. My aunt gives me a warm hug when she arrives.
3At seven o'clock, we all sit down and eat together. The food is delicious. After dinner, my brother and I wash the dishes. We say goodbye at nine. I love Sunday dinners with my family. Grandmother also makes sweet red bean soup for us. She says family is like the soup — warm and sweet. We all agree, and we smile. Next Sunday, we will go there again.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Every Sunday, my family goes to my grandmother's home for dinner.
每個星期日，我們一家人會去奶奶家吃飯。
My father drives us there in his old car.
爸爸會開着他那輛舊車載我們去。
My mother cooks fried rice with grandmother in the kitchen.
媽媽同奶奶在廚房一起煮炒飯。
My little brother plays with the dog in the garden.
弟弟在花園和那隻狗玩。
My sister helps grandmother set the table.
家姐幫奶奶放好碗筷。
Grandfather tells us funny stories about his school days.
爺爺會同我們說他讀書年代的有趣故事。
My uncle brings a big fruit cake from the shop.
叔叔從餅店買了一個大水果蛋糕來。
My aunt gives me a warm hug when she arrives.
姑母一到就會給我一個溫暖的擁抱。
At seven o'clock, we all sit down and eat together.
七點鐘，我們一起坐下吃飯。
The food is delicious.
那些食物很好吃。
After dinner, my brother and I wash the dishes.
吃完飯，我和弟弟負責洗碗。
We say goodbye at nine.
九點鐘我們就說再見。
I love Sunday dinners with my family.
我好喜歡和家人一起吃星期日的晚飯。
Grandmother also makes sweet red bean soup for us.
奶奶還會煮紅豆沙給我們。
She says family is like the soup — warm and sweet.
他說家庭就好像那碗紅豆沙一樣——又暖又甜。
We all agree, and we smile.
我們個個都贊成，一起笑。
Next Sunday, we will go there again.
下個星期日，我們會再去。
1Summary 重點摘要
Theme words for family members.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Your male parent.
Your female parent.
A boy with the same parents as you.
A girl with the same parents as you.
The father of your father or mother.
The mother of your father or mother.
The brother of your father or mother.
The sister of your father or mother.
3Step by step Steps
- Paragraph 1: Sunday dinnerEvery Sunday marks a habit, so use the present simple: my family goes. My grandmother's home uses 's to show whose home it is. Father drives us there in his old car — drive someone means take them by car. Tip: father is third person singular, so keep the s on drives.
- Paragraph 1 again: in the kitchenTwo people share one action, so the verb stays plain: Mother and Grandmother cook fried rice together. Together sits at the end. Cook is a verb here and can also be a noun for the person. Tip: only a single person as subject takes the s form.
- Paragraph 2: everyone helpsThe paragraph lists jobs: Sister helps set the table (help + plain verb); Grandfather tells funny stories (tell stories is a fixed pair); Uncle brings a big fruit cake. Every subject is third person singular, so every verb takes s. Tip: check the last verb too, not just the first.
- Paragraph 3: dinner and clean-upAt seven o'clock uses at for exact times. We all sit down and eat together: we is plural, so sit and eat stay plain. My brother and I wash the dishes — politeness puts I last. We say goodbye at nine. Tip: write my brother and I, never I and my brother.
- Telling the timeUse at before exact times: at seven o'clock, at nine. O'clock is only for whole hours; at seven thirty needs no o'clock. Each preposition has its job: at for times, on for days, in for months and years. Tip: half past seven is written at half past seven.
- The -s rule with andThe -s rule of the present simple: with he, she, it or one person, add s — My father drives, My mother cooks, My sister helps. People joined by and make a plural, so the verb is plain: My brother and I wash the dishes. Tip: count the subject first; having I in the sentence does not change the rule.
- Sentence practiceFollow the pattern My ___ + verb-s for family day: My father drives us to Grandmother's home. My sister helps set the table. My brother and I wash the dishes. The lines show singular +s, help + plain verb, and plain verb after and. Tip: count the subject of every sentence before choosing the verb form.
5Worked example Example
Family-day timetable: read the job verbs, match each person with the job, then write it up in three full sentences.
- Read the six verbs: drives, cooks, sets the table, tells stories, brings a cake, washes the dishes — all with s.
- Match set one: father drives; mother cooks; sister sets the table. One job each, verb + s.
- Match set two: grandfather tells stories; uncle brings a cake. Check every ending.
- Write 1: My father drives us to Grandmother's home. Follow My ___ + verb-s.
- Write 2: My sister helps Grandmother set the table. help takes the plain verb set.
- Write 3: My brother and I wash the dishes. and makes it plural, so wash stays plain.
- Check: does each verb match its subject? Capitals and full stops in place?
- Answer: My father drives us to Grandmother’s home. My sister helps Grandmother set the table. My brother and I wash the dishes.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1When do we go to Grandmother’s home?
Q2Who drives us there?
Q3What does sister help with?
Q4What time do we eat?
Q5What do my brother and I do after dinner?
8Recap Recap
- Use at before clock times: at seven o’clock.
- Family as one group is singular: My family goes ...
- Two people joined by and take no s: My brother and I wash ...
- Use object pronouns after verbs: help her, tell us.
- Everyone has a job on family day — say it in English.