Family & Friends
BasicWords for family, relatives and friends.
- Three generations: grandparents, parents, siblings.
- Relatives: a cousin is your uncle's or aunt's child.
- Describe a friend: appearance (tall) → personality (kind, funny) → things you do together.
文體小知識：People around you.
§Text Passage
1My grandparents live with us, and they take care of the whole family. Grandma cooks dinner every day, and her soup smells wonderful when I come home from school. Grandpa tells us funny stories about his childhood, and we laugh until our stomachs hurt. They are slow but patient, and I love listening to them.
2My cousin Katy is my best friend, and we share everything, even our secrets. We video-call each other on Sundays and talk about school, music and dreams. When I have problems, my parents always support me and give me good advice. They say I can tell them anything, and they will always listen.
3Good friends should trust each other and never tell lies. Our neighbour Mr Wong is very friendly, and he often gives us fruit from his garden. He says neighbours should help one another. Last month, I was ill, and my family cared for me day and night. I felt better quickly because love is the best medicine. I am lucky to have such warm people around me. I hope I can bring them happiness too.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
My grandparents live with us, and they take care of the whole family.
我爺爺奶奶同我們一起住，照顧全家。
Grandma cooks dinner every day, and her soup smells wonderful when I come home from school.
奶奶每天煮晚飯，我放學回到家，滿屋都是美味的湯香。
Grandpa tells us funny stories about his childhood, and we laugh until our stomachs hurt.
爺爺會講他小時候的搞笑故事，我們笑到肚痛。
They are slow but patient, and I love listening to them.
他們走路慢，但很有耐性，我最喜歡聽他們說話。
My cousin Katy is my best friend, and we share everything, even our secrets.
我表妹 Katy 是我最好的朋友，我們什麼都一起分享，連秘密都是。
We video-call each other on Sundays and talk about school, music and dreams.
我們每個星期日都會視像通話，談學校、音樂同夢想。
When I have problems, my parents always support me and give me good advice.
我有煩惱的時候，爸爸媽媽總會支持我，給我好的建議。
They say I can tell them anything, and they will always listen.
他們說我什麼都可以告訴他們，他們一定會聽。
Good friends should trust each other and never tell lies.
好朋友應該互相信任，永遠不說謊。
Our neighbour Mr Wong is very friendly, and he often gives us fruit from his garden.
我們的鄰居黃生很友善，常常送我們他花園種的生果。
He says neighbours should help one another.
他說鄰居之間應該互相幫助。
Last month, I was ill, and my family cared for me day and night.
上個月我病了，家人日日夜夜照顧我。
I felt better quickly because love is the best medicine.
因為愛就是最好的藥，我很快就康復了。
I am lucky to have such warm people around me.
我很幸運，身邊有這麼多溫暖的人。
I hope I can bring them happiness too.
我希望自己都可以帶給他們快樂。
1Summary 重點摘要
Words for family, relatives and friends.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
The parents of your parents.
An aunt's or uncle's child.
A person living next door.
Kind.
Give a part to others.
Help and back someone.
Believe in someone.
Look after someone.
3Step by step Steps
- FamilyFamily words: grandparents, parents, siblings. Example: My grandparents live with us. Remember that grandparents covers both grandfathers and grandmothers, and siblings means brothers and sisters.
- RelativesRelatives: cousin, uncle, aunt, nephew. Example: My cousin lives in Toronto. Cousin is used for boys and girls, older or younger; uncle and aunt cover all brothers and sisters of our parents.
- FriendshipDescribe good friends with adjectives: friendly, kind, helpful, honest. Example: My best friend is kind and honest. Use be plus an adjective; trust someone with something shows deep trust.
- SupportFamily and friends support and care for each other. Example: My family always supports me. Add -s to support when the subject is he, she or it; care usually goes with for, as in care for someone.
- Grandparents at homeUse the present simple for routines: My grandparents live with us. Grandma cooks dinner every day. Do not forget -s with he, she or it, as in cooks and tells.
- What friends do togetherUse present-tense verbs with adverbs of frequency: We study together after school. We share our snacks. I can trust him with my secrets. Together stresses teamwork, and can is followed by the base verb.
5Worked example Example
Question: How do we introduce our family and our best friend? Include who lives with you, one feature of each person, the friend's character and what friendship means.
- Step 1: Say who lives with you — My grandparents live with us, and they take care of the whole family. Joining two facts with and gives a strong opening.
- Step 2: Give one feature per person — Grandma cooks wonderful soup. Grandpa tells funny stories. One sentence each keeps the description lively and short.
- Step 3: Introduce the friend — My best friend is Mary. Best friend shows a closer bond than just friend.
- Step 4: Add character and activities — She is kind and helpful. We study together after school. Character plus activities makes the person vivid.
- Step 5: Close with what friendship means — We share everything, and we never let each other down. Never let each other down is a strong closing phrase.
- Answer: Sample answer: My grandparents live with us and take care of the whole family. Grandma cooks wonderful soup and Grandpa tells funny stories. My best friend is Mary. She is kind and helpful, and we study together after school. We share everything — that is why we are best friends. Family first, then the friend: the order keeps the talk clear.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Grandparents?
Q2Cousin?
Q3Neighbour?
Q4Share?
Q5Trust?
Q6Friendly?
8Recap Recap
- Three generations: grandparents, parents, siblings.
- Relatives: a cousin is your uncle's or aunt's child.
- Describe a friend: appearance (tall) → personality (kind, funny) → things you do together.
- Friendship verbs: share, trust, support, care.
- Polite order: Mary and I (never I and Mary).