English Learning: Travel, Grammar, and Photo Descriptions
Letter to Emily
Dear Emily,
Thank you for your email! I’m excited about spending the summer with you and greatly appreciate your hospitality.
My flight will be arriving at Newark Airport on September 10th at 3:00 p.m. The flight number is LA456. After collecting my luggage, I’ll be exiting through the B arrivals gate. My cell phone number is +569 35414493, in case you need to reach me that day.
To answer your other questions, I will be returning to Peru on October 1st. I’m allergic to nuts, so I can’t eat any food containing them. I would prefer to have my own room if possible, but I’m open to sharing with another student if needed. As for activities, I’m interested in visiting historical sites and prominent museums in the area, but I’m also open to any recommendations you might have.
Thank you once again for your kindness, and I look forward to our time together!
Warm regards,
Verb ‘To Be’ in Past Tense
Was: I, He, She, It
Were: We, They, You
Photo Description Examples
Example 1
In this special photo, a beautiful sunset paints warm colors over the quiet beach. The shining waves softly touch the shore, making detailed patterns in the sand. A single sailboat moves smoothly on the peaceful water, its shape shown against the colorful sky. The picture shows a calm time of natural beauty, making us feel peaceful and amazed.
Example 2
This picture shows the true nature of a forest. A thick forest with tall trees reaching for the sky. Sunlight comes through the leaves, making spots of light on the ground covered in leaves. The air smells fresh and earthy, just like forests do. Looking at it takes you to a peaceful world connected to the earth.
Travel Arrangement Emails
Example 1
Hey [Friend’s Name],
Just a quick update on our upcoming adventure! Our flight is all set for June 15th at 10:00 AM from JFK Airport. We’ll touch down at Miami International Airport around 1:30 PM. Can’t wait to soak up the sun and explore!
I’ve booked us a cozy spot at Oceanview Resort near the beach. Heard they’ve got a killer breakfast too – you know I’m all about the food!
I’ve got a list of must-see places and local gems. But hey, we’ll keep it flexible and see where the journey takes us.
Let me know if you’ve got anything to add or if you’re ready to roll. Excitement level: through the roof!
Catch you soon,
[Your Name]
Example 2
Hi [Friend’s Name],
Just a quick heads-up about our travel plans. We’re all set to take off on July 3rd at 9:00 AM from LAX Airport. We’ll be landing at Honolulu International Airport around 2:00 PM. Can’t wait to kick back and explore!
Our pad is booked at Island Paradise Hotel, a short walk from the beach. Word is, they serve an epic breakfast – you know I’m a foodie!
I’ve got a few spots lined up to check out, but let’s keep room for spontaneity. Got anything else to toss into the mix?
Talk soon,
[Your Name]
Past Tense of ‘To Be’ (Ser o Estar)
Present
- I am – Past: was
- He / She / It is – Past: was
- You / We / They are – Past: were
Past Simple Affirmative
- V + ED = With most verbs, we add ED; work – worked
- + D = With verbs ending with E, we add D; live – lived
- Y – IED = With verbs that end with a consonant + Y, we change the Y to IED; try – tried, apply – applied, study – studied
- Double Consonant = With verbs that end with a vowel + one consonant, we double the consonant; stop – stopped, plan – planned
Prepositions
Prepositions provide information about the relationship of an object to another part of the sentence. To remember the role of a preposition, notice that ‘position’ appears in the word ‘preposition’.
Places Prepositions
- AT = Located at a specific place. Example: Clara studied at the library all day.
- IN = Located within boundaries (enclosed). Example: The fans are in the stadium.
- ON = Located on a surface (not enclosed). Example: I left my homework on the kitchen table.
Times Prepositions
- AT = A specific time on the clock, times of day (night). Example: We have class at 2 o’clock. I have an appointment with the doctor at 4:30. We sleep at night.
- IN = A specific month, specific year, in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening.
- ON = A specific day of the week, a specific date.
- FROM…TO = FROM (specific time) TO (a specific time).
Other Prepositions
- About – Around something or enclosing something.
- For – With a purpose or giving a reason.
- To – In a direction.
- At – Connected to a location.
- From – The origin of something.
- In – Completely or partly enclosed by something.
- On – The basis for something.