At each change of the season, people notice that, feel and talk even more about the weather. They commonly ask about it by saying:
How’s the weather?
What’s the weather like?
What’s it like outside? (What’s the weather like outside?)
What’s the temperature?
What’s the weather forecast?
What’s the forecast for tomorrow?
We usually use IT IS when we talk about the weather. We use:
It is + adjective or It is + verb-ing
For example:
It is rainy.
It is raining.
What is the difference?
It is + adjective = A description of the weather
It is rainy …. it is describing the weather. How is the weather? It is rainy.
It is + verb-ing = This type of weather is happening now.
It is raining …. What is happening now? It is raining.
Let’s look at more examples of these.
It is + adjective
It is + adjective = A description of the weather
It is sunny.
It is cloudy.
It is windy.
It is foggy.
Notice how a lot of weather adjectives end in Y: sunny, cloudy, windy, foggy.
But adjectives to describe temperature don’t normally end in Y:
It is hot.
It is warm.
It is cool.
It is cold.
It is + a + adjective + day
Now let’s look at this again… It is hot.
We can give a little more information by using: It is + a + adjective + day Or instead of the word day, you can specify the part of the day like morning, afternoon, night, etc.
So, It is hot … becomes …
It is a hot day.
Another example:
It is cold … becomes …
it is a cold morning. (Here I specify the part of the day)
Now let’s look at using the verb-ing to describe the weather.
It is + verb-ing
Remember, this describes the type of weather happening now.
It is raining.
It is snowing.
It is hailing.
These three actions are happening now.
IT IS in different tenses
You can also use it is in different tenses. For example the past tense, perfect tense, present tense, future tense, etc.
Learn the differences between ‘at,’‘in,’ and ‘on,’ as prepositions of place with this awesome video! Take notes, use the subtitles and play the video slower than its speed if you need.
Good, right?
So let’s look again at the differences between ‘at,’ ‘in,’ and ‘on’ for locations with a different lesson.
At can be used to talk about a specific location.
I’m at work.
He’s at the shops.
On is frequently used in relation to a surface.
I’m sitting on a chair.
The pen is on the table.
You can hang the picture on the wall.
In often talks about a three-dimensional space – often with four walls. It’s similar to ‘inside’.
The bed is in the bedroom.
The flowers look great in that vase (or in the garden).
David is playing in the forest.
Remember! Think of a music concert: I’m at the front. The band is on the stage. And my friends are in the crowd.
EXPLAINED IN MORE DETAIL
Now, we will look at the different ways to use the prepositions ‘in,’ ‘on,’ and ‘at,’ more examples, meanings, and exceptions to the rules. First, test your knowledge of the vocabulary with the quiz.
At
‘At’ is often used for public places. For example, you can say ‘at the cinema’ or ‘at the mall.’
‘At’ in this case can mean that you’re inside the place, or just near it.
Often, in these cases, it’s possible to use ‘in’ or ‘at’ with no difference in meaning. You can say ‘I’m in the supermarket’ or ‘I’m at the supermarket’; both are correct and commonly used.
There might be a small difference. If you want to emphasize that you’re inside a building, then use ‘in.’ If you’re outdoors, then use ‘at.’
‘At’ can mean ‘next to’. Let’s see a couple of examples:
They sat at the table and discussed what to do next.
Someone’s at the door. Can you answer it?
I was waiting at the bus stop for half an hour.
Use ‘at’ with events or the building where an event or activity takes place.
at a party
at a meeting
at a concert
at the cinema
at the library
at the airport
Use ‘at’ with people’s homes or offices. You can say:
I was at Tim’s house yesterday.
We’ll be at Sasha’s place for dinner tonight.
Use ‘at’ for a temporary stop during a journey:
We stopped at a nice village.
The train to Manchester stops at Birmingham.
There are a few fixed phraseswith ‘at’ that it’s better just to memorize. The most important ones are:
at home
at work
at school
at college
at university
at church
at reception
Note that you never use an article, like ‘a’ or ‘the,’ in the phrases ‘at home’ and ‘at work,’ and you generally don’t use an article when you say ‘at school,’ ‘at college’ or ‘at university.’
Use ‘at’ to talk about position or time with phrases like:
at the end of
at the beginning of
at the top of
at the bottom of
For example: ‘Please read and follow the instructions at the top of the page.’
Finally, use ‘at’ with an exact address, when we know the name and number of the street, for example: ‘I live at 13 Crinklewell Crescent.’
On
Use ‘on’ when something is on a surface:
on the floor
on the shelf
on the kitchen counter
on the bed
on my desk
on a chair
on the ceiling
You can use ‘on’ with all kinds of surfaces – not just horizontal ones:
She has a small spot on her nose.
There is a photograph on the wall.
He spilled coffee on his shirt.
Use ‘on’ with print media:
on page one
on the menu
on the map
You use ‘on’ with geographical features, like islands and beaches.
There’s a pretty church on that island.
For canal and other bodies of water like rivers and lakes, we think of them as surfaces.
We had a lovely gondola ride on the Grand Canal.
But ‘on’ and ‘in’ are both possible with mountains. We say that someone or something is ona mountain If we are talking about a single mountain.
We say that someone or something is inthe mountains (in the plural) when we are talking about a mountain range.
They went skiing on Mont Blanc.
They went skiing in the Alps.
Use ‘on’ with transport in which you sit on top of: bicycles, motorbikes, and horses. You also use ‘on’ with public transport and boats. So, you say:
on the plane
on the bus
on the boat
Here’s one more example: ‘He’s sitting on the train and talking on the phone.’
Use ‘on’ to talk about using devices:
on the phone
on the internet
on the radio
on TV
Use ‘on’ with floors. You say:
on the ground floor (British English = first floor, American English)
on the second floor
on the fifth floor
Use ‘on’ is when something is ‘attached’ to something else:
She is wearing a ring is on her finger.
There are three apples on the tree, etc.
Use ‘on’ for a town close to a coast, river, or the coast, and for roads andstreets.
Florianópolis is a town on the south coast of Brazil.
Blumenau is on the river Itajaí Açú.
Use ‘on’ for talking about places along a road when we do not know the number of the street:
I live on México Street.
Finally, ‘on’ a farm, ‘on’ the left/ ‘on’ the right, are standardexpressions.
In
The most common use of the ‘in’ preposition is for citiesand countries.
I live in Brazil.
She lives in Paris.
Use ‘in’ for rooms and indoor spaces:
in the living room
in the apartment
in my bedroom
Also, use ‘in’ for containers and enclosed spaces:
in the bowl
in the box
in your pocket
Also, use ‘in’ plus ‘north’, ‘south’, ‘east’ or ‘west’:
She lives in the south of Spain.
Thailand is in south east Asia.
Use ‘in’ with establishments and businesses:
in the shop
in a restaurant
in the supermarket
As you saw before, sometimes, ‘at’ is also possible here, with a similar meaning.
You also say ‘in the centre’ or ‘in the middle’.
Use ‘in’ to talk about media:
in a picture
in the photograph
in the film
in the newspaper
Use ‘in’ with cars and taxis. With most other transport, use ‘on.’
You also use ‘in’ to mean ‘surrounded by a material’:
in the air
in the water
in the sea
in the sky
in a thick sauce
Use ‘in’ to talk about many outdoor spaces. You can use ‘in’ for smaller, enclosed spaces. For example:
in the park
in a field
in the garden
You can also use ‘in’ for larger, more open spaces:
in the countryside
in the sky
in the world
Use ‘in’ to talk about things which are enclosed by part of your body. You can hold something in your hand. If you eat too much sugar, you’ll get toothache – a pain in your tooth.
He felt a sudden pain in his stomach.
There are some fixed phraseswith ‘in’ that don’t follow a clear pattern. Notice that we do not use the word “the”. The most useful are:
in bed
in hospital
in prison
If you are talking about ‘armchair,’ you say, ‘we sit in an armchair,’ but if it is a regular chair, you say ‘we sit on a chair.’
There is no rule. We must learn these fixed expressions.
Finally, use ‘in’ to talk about things which are in a line. For example:
We sat on the floor in a row.
He arranged his tools in a neat line.
This also works if you arrange things into a shape. For example: ‘We set out the chairs in a circle.’
Wow! That is a comprehensive and highly necessary lesson! 😉
Home in this example is behaving like an adverb expressing direction. We do not need a preposition with home when it is used with any verb referring to direction:
I will ARRIVE / GO / COME / LEAVE home late this evening.
Note that most verbs expressing direction require the preposition to before the noun:
I ranto the theatre so that I wouldn’t be late.
I’m going to walk to work from now on. It’s healthier.
Now, once you arrive home, then you are at home, and no more direction is suggested, so at is then the appropriate preposition to use with home:
Will you be athome tonight, or are you going out? ~ No, I’ll be at home.
However, even here, at is often omitted, especially in American English.
So AT HOME / FROM HOME / GO HOME / LEAVE HOME are common fixed expressions with prepositions where no article is required:
Working from home continues to be a popular choice among employees, even after the pandemic.
PRACTICE 1 – LISTENING: Listen to vocabulary related to working from home, from announcements to buying and setting up computers to work from home.
PRACTICE 2 – SPEAKING: answer the questions
Three years later, what’s the future of remote work?
What kind of work environment do you think employees expect in 2023?
Do you think remote workers are more productive than the ones working in an office?
Studies show promising results for hybrid work, especially for those who enjoy face-to-face interactions and the excitement of office environments.
Carnival in Brazil is part of Brazilian culture and starts on the Friday before Ash Wednesday and ends on Ash Wednesday at noon.
It’s a big celebration of the food and pleasures one has to give up during Lent.
Because the celebrations happen during Brazil’s summer, the ambiance is perfect for massive parties. There is even a common saying in Brazil that “the year starts only after Carnival,” referring to the number of people that take their holidays between New Year’s and Carnival, a national holiday.
How about learning the main words about carnival in English? Listen to pronunciation and note the words, not on the lists below.
Vocabulário geral
English
Português
Street Carnival
Carnaval de rua
Samba schools parade
Desfile das escolas de samba
Costumes
Fantasias
Reveler
Folião
Carnival blocks
Blocos de Carnaval
Carnival warm-up
Esquenta de Carnaval
Costume
Fantasia
Sequin
Lantejoula
Feathers
Penas
Nas escolas de samba
English
Português
Choreography
Coreografia
Sambadrome
Sambódromo
Flag bearer
Porta-bandeira
Drum section
Ala da bateria
Drum section queen
Rainha da bateria
Floats
Carros alegóricos
Revelers / Paraders
Participantes ou público dos desfiles
Wing / Section
Ala
Suites
Camarotes
Rehearsals
Ensaios
Access group
Grupo de acesso
Special group
Grupo especial
Parade of champions
Desfile das campeãs
Extra
Band on a float – Trio elétrico
Carnival ball – Baile de Carnaval
Carnival marchs – Marchinhas de Carnaval
Commission of front – Comissão de frente
Revelry – Folia
Samba schools rehersals – Ensaios das escolas de samba
Samba-plot/story – Samba–enredo
Sobre as datas
English
Português
Holiday
Feriado
Mardi Gras / Fat Tuesday
Terça-feira de Carnaval
Ash Wednesday
Quarta-feira de Cinzas
Lent
Quaresma
Verbos úteis
English
Português
(To) celebrate Carnival
Pular Carnaval
(To) dress up as
Vestir-se de
(To) parade
Desfilar
(To) samba
Sambar
Frases úteis
Where are you celebrating the carnival? Onde você vai pular o carnaval?
Are you going to parade in a street block this year? Você vai desfilar em algum bloco de rua esse ano?
The revelers of the drum section are wearing beautiful costumes! Os foliões da ala de bateria estão usando fantasias lindas!
Let’s go to the bleachers to watch the parade of champions. Vamos para as arquibancadas para vermos o desfile das campeãs.
The world’s biggest carnival celebrations happen in Brazil. In Rio and São Paulo, the samba schools (escolas de samba) offer the famous parades (desfiles) in the Sambódromo, with thousands of members and spectacularly decorated floats (carros alegóricos) demonstrating specific themes.
During carnival, groups of dancers and street bands called blocks (blocos) parade the streets with many of the revelers (foliões) wearing costumes (fantasias).
Another popular feature of carnival, especially in Salvador, is the trio elétrico – band on a float, a huge truck, adapted with giant speakers and a stage on top, where musicians and singers perform to the delight of thousands of fans who follow the truck as it goes slowly through the streets.
Throughout the country, many clubs also arrange carnival balls (bailes).
The state of Pernambuco is famous for its carnival celebrations and the styles of music and dancing (Frevo and Maracatu). According to The Guinness Book of Records, Recife hosts the largest carnival parade in the world, known as the Galo da Madrugada – Lit. the cock or rooster (US) at daybreak, which takes place in the center of Recife on the Saturday of carnival.
Okay, so whether you celebrate carnival (pular o carnaval) by partying noisily or relaxing quietly at home, do what makes you happy!
