Family (Unit 14)

English as a Second Language English for Beginners
1

Family – relatives – our next of kin

Let’s start with the words [color=blue]mother and [color=blue]father – they should be familiar to everyone. Both of them together are our [color=blue]parents.
If we call them, we often say [color=blue]mum/ mummy or [color=blue]dad/ daddy. In North America, some might call their mother [color=blue]mom.
We are their [color=blue]children. Either we are female, therefore [color=blue]daughter – or male, therefore [color=blue]son.

Our parents’ parents are our [color=green]grandparents:
[color=green]Grandmother is the female one, also called [color=green]gran, grandma or [color=green]granny.
[color=green]Grandfather is the male one, also called [color=green]granddad, granddaddy or [color=green]grandpa.
We are their [color=green]grandchildren.
Either we are female, therefore [color=green]granddaughter – or male, therefore [color=green]grandson.

A sister of our father’s or our mother’s is our [color=darkred]aunt.
A brother of our father’s or our mother’s is our [color=darkred]uncle.
Their children are our [color=darkred]cousins.
One of them can either be our parents’ [color=darkred]nephew or [color=darkred]niece.
They same is with us and our brother’s or sister’s children.

Confusing?? Well………. Here is part II: :smiley:

The wedding

The male participant is the [color=darkblue]bridegroom.
The female one is the [color=darkblue]bride.
The [color=darkblue]best man is usually the bridegroom’s best friend who witnesses the marriage and stands beside him.
The [color=darkblue]maid of honour is usually the bride’s who witnesses the marriage and stands beside her.

After the wedding

The man is the woman’s husband.
The woman is the man’s wife.

For the man, his wife’s parents are his parents-in-law: his mother-in-law and his father-in-law.
His wife’s sister is his sister-in-law and his wife’s brother is his brother-in-law.

The same is with the woman and her husband’s relatives.

Still confused? – I don’t think so…. :smiley:

In Unit 15 you are going to learn all about Passive Voice.

2

“Mum” and “dad”, i really enjoy two words :lol:

3

thanks for posting! cool!

4

Good topic for people who loves his/her parents and remembers backgrounds.

5

A sister of our [color=red]father’s or our [color=red]mother’s is our aunt.
A brother of our [color=red]father’s or our [color=red]mother’s is our uncle.
Their children are our cousins.
One of them can either be our parents’ nephew or niece.
They same is with us and our brother’s or [color=red]sister’s children.

The sentences in red has the " 's " at the end so I do not understand What is it mean.
Please help me If you do not mind.
Thanks and best regards.
Trung Hieu (from Vietnam)

6

" 's " is the possessive, it means that the direct object belongs to the indirect.

7

Hi, I always wanted to know what are the names in English of those members …noe I know them , I’m jst grateful …

8

Ok I understand this unit and I have one question : If I want put niece in a sentence e.g. :Maryam she is my niece. This sentence is right or wrong?

The [color=red]best man is usually the bridegroom’s best friend who witnesses the marriage and stands beside him.
The [color=red]maid of honour is usually the bride’s who witnesses the marriage and stands beside her.

I Can’t understand this( best man,maid of honour ) refers to whom?Are they refers to friends ?!
Can you explain this please?

Thanks

9

Hi Coconut

You should write it without the word “she”:

  • Maryam is my niece.

This sentence is not complete and needs to be fixed. Something is missing after the word “bride’s”.

The “best man” is generally either a close male friend or relative (e.g. brother) of the groom.
The “maid of hono(u)r” is generally a close female friend or relative (e.g. sister) of the bride.
.

10

Hi Yankee,

You always help me :slight_smile: ,thank you very much.
The sentences now are clear to me.

11

Dear Teacher,

I want to know more about nephew & niece…
whats the difference between cousins, nephew & niece?

regards,
Pons

12

Dear Torsten,
My parents both live with me, my daddy has one brother and three sisters. They all have their own families. My uncle is a teacher and all of my aunts are farmers.
My mummy has one sister and one brother. They all live in Australia with my cousins. My aunt has two granddaughters and one grandson. My mom has seen her nephew once last year but my dad talks to his nieces very often on internet.
My grandparents are very old. They live with my aunts and my uncle and their grandchildren.
My granny likes traditional foods but my grandpa enjoys drinking local brandy. They sometimes do walking in a park near our house and my granddad often plays chess with his friends. My grandparents have totally 57 grandchildren. Some of them only know each other once we celebrate our ancestor’s death anniversary. That is a very happy day for our relatives with lots of chatting about our childhood and enjoy different traditional foods.
Our culture maintains extended family that grandparents were taken care by their grandchildren. By contrast, children were also looked after by their grandmas. The elder people are happy to play with their grandchildren at home but not be lonely in a nursing home. Our childhood is related with our relatives.
How is your culture and relatives? Please tell me.
Thanks, have a nice day.
See you soon,
Toai

13

Dear Pons

I would like to answer of your question

Niece= daughter of your sister and brother in both case she is called (Niece) either she is related to your “maternal” or “paternal”

Nephew= Son of your sister and brother in both case he is called (Nephew) either he is related to your “maternal” or “paternal”

hope you got the answer

misskhan

14

Understandable

15

can we have a voice recorde for this lesson
thx

16

Hi, everyone,

I have a question about the following two sentences:

A sister of our father’s or our mother’s is our aunt.
A brother of our father’s or our mother’s is our uncle

Why do we have here the of-structure and the possessive 's at the same time?
Why can’t we simply say: A sister of our father is our aunt?
Thank you for your reply

17

“Bridegroom” might be shortened to “groom” as well.

18

I love my parents and parents-in-law.
But my father is dead.
I have one sister- in-low and don’t have brothr-in-low.

19

hi Sunny,

You help me so much.
thanks.

sunida

20

Hello Mr. Torsten, I’m Lillo. I have solved my trouble interesting my e-mail service and so I have just received a lot of e-mail since last July 26th until now. Obviously one of them was your lesson nr. 6 and therefore I have tried to learn both possessive “s” and the differences between “must, have to and ought to”. I have pleased to inform you I carried out all the questions of the test successfully.
Thank a lot to you and your fantastic team. See you next time.
Best regards, Lillo.