Grammar for Summer: Rest, Relaxation
2021-07-02
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1In the United States, summer is a time when students can have fun, rest, and relax -- at least those not attending summer school.
2In many countries around the world, summer is also a time to take long vacations or short trips to beautiful places.
3In today's Everyday Grammar, we will explore the grammar of rest, relaxation, and summer fun.
4You will learn how the verb have plays a central part in describing fun times.
5Let's begin with a few important ideas.
6Have is an unusual verb. It can act as a main verb, as in:
7We had fun!
8Or it can act as an auxiliary verb, as in:
9I have visited this place many times.
10For today's report, let's only explore have in its use as a main verb.
11One common structure is have + a noun phrase.
12A noun phrase is a group of words that act like a noun in a sentence.
13Have + a noun phrase can mean to own or possess something.
14But it can also have other meanings that are very commonly used.
15Many of these meanings express fun and relaxation.
16When people go on trips, or even have time to relax at home, they are often more careful about preparing and eating meals.
17Students who do not have to hurry to school may be more likely to have a big breakfast.
18Or perhaps families on trips take more care to have large dinners.
19In any of these cases, the structure have + a noun phrase can mean to eat or drink something.
20For example, a person might say any of the following:
21Do you want to have lunch?
22I'd like to have a snack.
23Have + a noun phrase can take on other meanings, too.
24One meaning is to enjoy something.
25So, young people could describe a situation in which they had fun, or had a good time, or even had a blast.
26The three statements are nearly the same in meaning, with have a blast being the strongest statement of them all.
27Consider this example:
28Parent: How was your day? Did you play with your friends?
29Child: Yes! I went to Teddy's house, and we had a blast!
30Parent: What did you do?
31Child: We set fire to a ...
32Parent: You did what?
33Child: Just kidding!
34On summer trips, families and others finally get a chance to do something fun or different.
35This leads us to the final meaning of have + a noun phrase: to get a chance or the time to do something.
36The most common expressions are have a chance or have time.
37Consider these two examples:
38When I go on summer vacation, I will have a chance to read books and play video games.
39When I take a vacation from work, I will have time to see friends and go hiking!
40While the examples we explored today are about summer vacations or trips,
41you can use these structures to talk about all kinds of fun and relaxing times and activities.
42English grammar can be fun... especially when you use grammar lessons to talk about great times!
43I'm John Russell.
1In the United States, summer is a time when students can have fun, rest, and relax -- at least those not attending summer school. 2In many countries around the world, summer is also a time to take long vacations or short trips to beautiful places. 3In today's Everyday Grammar, we will explore the grammar of rest, relaxation, and summer fun. You will learn how the verb have plays a central part in describing fun times. 4Let's begin with a few important ideas. 5Have 6Have is an unusual verb. It can act as a main verb, as in: 7We had fun! 8Or it can act as an auxiliary verb, as in: 9I have visited this place many times. 10For today's report, let's only explore have in its use as a main verb. 11One common structure is have + a noun phrase. A noun phrase is a group of words that act like a noun in a sentence. 12Have + a noun phrase can mean to own or possess something. 13But it can also have other meanings that are very commonly used. Many of these meanings express fun and relaxation. 14Meals and drinks 15When people go on trips, or even have time to relax at home, they are often more careful about preparing and eating meals. 16Students who do not have to hurry to school may be more likely to have a big breakfast. Or perhaps families on trips take more care to have large dinners. 17In any of these cases, the structure have + a noun phrase can mean to eat or drink something. 18For example, a person might say any of the following: 19Do you want to have lunch? 20I'd like to have a snack. 21Enjoying something 22Have + a noun phrase can take on other meanings, too. 23One meaning is to enjoy something. 24So, young people could describe a situation in which they had fun, or had a good time, or even had a blast. 25The three statements are nearly the same in meaning, with have a blast being the strongest statement of them all. 26Consider this example: 27Parent: How was your day? Did you play with your friends? 28Child: Yes! I went to Teddy's house, and we had a blast! 29Parent: What did you do? 30Child: We set fire to a ... 31Parent: You did what? 32Child: Just kidding! 33Getting a chance or the time to do something 34On summer trips, families and others finally get a chance to do something fun or different. 35This leads us to the final meaning of have + a noun phrase: to get a chance or the time to do something. The most common expressions are have a chance or have time. 36Consider these two examples: 37When I go on summer vacation, I will have a chance to read books and play video games. 38When I take a vacation from work, I will have time to see friends and go hiking! 39Closing thoughts 40While the examples we explored today are about summer vacations or trips, you can use these structures to talk about all kinds of fun and relaxing times and activities. English grammar can be fun... especially when you use grammar lessons to talk about great times! 41I'm John Russell. 42John Russell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 43_______________________________________________________________ 44Words in This Story 45relax - v. to spend time resting and enjoying yourself 46auxiliary verb - n. Grammar : a verb (such as have, be, may, do, shall, will, can, or must) that is used with another verb to show the verb's tense, to form a question, etc. 47snack - n. a small amount of food eaten between meals