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Chapter 4 – An Afternoon In The Park
Situation: Every year, Rooster Run, a country music band holds a concert at Silverado park. Alex and his two friends are heading toward the park to attend the concert.
Alex: Hey Jane, John, there is a musical concert in the park. You want to go see the band play?
Jane: I am done with my homework; I can go.
John: Me too. Let’s go.
Jane: Hey, look at that sport car. Isn’t it neat?
Alex: That is exactly the kind of car that I want once I get a good job. I bet it is very fast. I want mine to be red though.
Jane: Keep on dreaming, Alex. That car costs a fortune.
Alex: It does not hurt to set high expectations. Maybe one day I will make a lot of money, and I might surprise you.
John: Talking about cars, why is the traffic so heavy today?
Alex: People are probably heading toward the park for the concert. The band does play pretty good music.
Jane: Yes, it does. For the last three years, I have never missed the concert. I have always arranged my schedule so that I could attend the event once the band was in town.
John: How long ago did the band start playing at our park?
Jane: I think it started this tradition five years ago before you moved into our neighborhood. Every year it always arrives the first week of June to play for the whole week.
Alex: You will enjoy this evening, John. There will be good Country music, a lot of stomping around, and definitely a lot of hollering.
John: It sounds like fun.
Jane: My favorite is Rock and Roll music; however, I have to say that country melodies can be quite enticing. I can listen to them all day long.
Alex: John, what kind of music do you like?
John: Oh, I like all kinds of music as long as it is not Hard Rock.
Jane: Wow, look at the number of people who have already shown up for the concert. Good thing that we are here already.
Alex: Jane, where do you want to sit? In the shade or in the sun?
Jane: In the shade, please. I have been in the sun too much lately.
John: There is a food stand over there. Do you two want anything?
Jane: Nothing for me, thanks. I already have my bottle of water.
Alex: I want a bag of chips and a soda. Are you sure you do not want any chips, Jane?
Jane: I am quite sure. Besides, my mother is cooking a good steak dinner, and I want to save my appetite.
Alex: Jane, you are so lucky to have such a good cook for a mother. John, you have to taste her cream cakes one of these days. You cannot find better cream cakes anywhere in this town.
Jane: I know we will have cream cake for dessert this evening. I will save you a piece if you want, John.
John: I always love cake, so please save me a piece. Thanks, Jane.
Jane: How about you, Alex? A piece of cake for you too?
Alex: You know I will say yes to a piece of your mother’s cream cake any day.
Jane: OK, I will save two pieces of cream cake for both of you tonight. We can meet at the cafeteria at lunch time tomorrow and I will give them to you.
John: Alex, you better get your chips and soda now if you still want them. It is almost 3:00PM, and the concert is about to start.
Alex: For the last time, do you guys want anything?
Jane: I am sure I do not want anything, Alex. I am doing fine.
John: Me neither, Alex.
Alex: OK, save me a seat. I will be right back.
Questions/Answers Practice
Q: Did you see that beautiful car?
A: Yes, I sure did.
Q: Were there a lot of people at the park?
A: No, there were only a few.
Q: What can people do at the park?
A: They can ride a bike, jog, or skate.
Q: What kinds of attractions do they have
A: A fishing contest and a marathon.
at the park this coming Saturday?
Q: Do you want to have your birthday party
A: Yes, if you do not mind. at the park this year?
Q: Do you like to go to the park?
A: I love to go to the park.
Q: Did you buy a ticket for ABA’s annual concert?
A: No, it was sold out.
| Q: Was Steve Malone’s new CD on the Top Ten list? | A: Yes, his new CD was on the Top Ten list for two weeks. |
| Q: Who will conduct the Christmas symphony? | A: This year Ron will conduct the Christmas symphony. |
| Q: Who will you vote for Best Performer? | A: I will definitely vote for Tom Nelson. |
| Q: Do you like classical music? | A: Yes, I do. |
| Q: Who will play at the Pond this year? | A: Steve Malone will hold a concert there this year. |
3) Comprehension test
- Why are Jane, John and Alex heading toward the park?
- What kind of car does Alex want to own?
- How is the traffic?
- When did the band start playing in Jane’s town?
- When does the band show up every year?
- What kind of music does the band play?
- What will happen when the band plays?
- What is John’s favorite music?
- What else can people do at the park besides listening to the music?
- Why doesn’t Jane want anything from the food stand?
- Is Jane’s mother a bad cook?
- When and where will Jane give the pieces of cake to John and Alex?
4) Discussion
- What kind of entertainment should your town have every year?
- What kind of music do you like? Why?
- What is the use of a park? Why should we have parks?
GRAMMAR REVIEW
PRONOUNS
Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns without changing the meaning of the sentence and may play the same roles as nouns in the sentence. Pronouns are handy because they eliminate the need to repeat words. Like nouns, pronouns can be either singular or plural.
When a pronoun replaces a word or a group of words, the word or group of words being replaced is called an antecedent. If the pronoun’s antecedent is singular, the pronoun must be singular. If the pronoun’s antecedent is plural, the pronoun must be plural.
Look at that sport car. Isn’t it neat?
Country melodies can be quite enticing. I can listen to them all day long.
There are many types of pronouns, and personal pronouns are one of the most commonly used pronouns.
Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns are used to replace a noun that refers to a person, animal or thing. There are many types of personal pronouns and their uses depend on the function they play in the sentence. 1) The subjective case
| Singular | Plural | |
| First person (The person who is speaking) | I | We |
| Second person (The person who is spoken to) | You | You |
| Third person (masculine) (The person who is spoken of) | He | They |
| Third person (feminine) (The person who is spoken of) | She | They |
| Third person (neutral) (The thing which is spoken of) | It | They |
The subjective case is used to indicate the person, animal or thing that performs the action or is the subject of a verb.
I will give the piece of cake to Alex tomorrow.
You will enjoy this evening.
- The objective case
| Singular | Plural | |
| First person | Me | Us |
| Second person | You | You |
| Third person (masculine) | Him | Them |
| Third person (feminine) | Her | Them |
| Third person (neutral) | It | Them |
The objective case is used when the person or thing is the object of a verb and is not the one performing the action.
- might surprise her showing up with my new sports car.
Country melodies can be quite enticing. I can listen to them all day long.
- The possessive case
| Singular | Plural | |
| First person | My/Mine | Our/Ours |
| Second person | Your/Yours | Your/Yours |
| Third person (masculine) | His/His | Their/Theirs |
| Third person (feminine) | Her/Hers | Their/Theirs |
| Third person (neutral) | Its/Its | Their/Theirs |
The possessive case is used to express possession.
You moved into our neighborhood.
- love that sports car. I want mine to be red though.
- The reflexive case
| Singular | Plural | |
| First person | Myself | Ourselves |
| Second person | Yourself | Yourselves |
| Third person (masculine) | Himself | Themselves |
| Third person (feminine) | Herself | Themselves |
| Third person (neutral) | Itself | Themselves |
The reflexive case is used when the subject and the object of the sentence are the same person/thing. Reflexive pronouns usually are placed after the verb.
- will do it myself.
She will drive herself to school.
Note:
Reflexive pronouns can be placed right next to a noun or pronoun before the verb to emphasize the noun or pronoun.
I myself will pick you up at the airport.
Mary herself must clean up the mess in the kitchen.
Questions/Answers Practice
Similar questions and answers.
| Q: Who took the blue shirt to the cleaner? | A: I took the blue shirt to the cleaner. |
| Q: How did John and Jane feel after the trip? | A: They felt sick. |
| Q: Did John and Jane leave for work yet? | A: They already left for work. |
| Q: Who will drive both of you to school? | A: John will drive us to school. |
| Q: Did you talk to John and Jane after school? | A: I talked to them at 3 o’clock. |
| Q: Did you feed your daughter yet? | A: I fed her two hours ago. |
| Q: Whose books are those? | A: Those books are mine. |
| Q: Is that Janet’s car? | A: Yes, that is her car. |
| Q: Did you buy Rick and Jessica’s boat? | A: No. It is still theirs. |
| Q: Did Mary help you with your homework? | A: No, I did them by myself. |
| Q: Who painted their house? | A: They painted the house themselves. |
| Q: Should I ask for Jason’s help? | A: No, you should clean the house by yourself. |