We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Chorus
We wish you a merry Christmas (3) and a happy New Year.

1. We want some figgy pudding, * * (3) so bring some out here.
2. We’d all like some cake and candy, (3) so bring some out here.
3. We won’t go until we get some (3) and a cup of good cheer.

Chorus
We wish you a merry Christmas (3) and a happy New Year.

Good tidings to you, wherever you are.
Good tidings for Christmas and a happy New Year.

GRAMMAR
1. Wish, followed by a noun
For example, I wish you a Merry Christmas/ a happy birthday/ a good day.
Now you write your own wish + a noun sentence.
______________________________________________________________

2. Hope can be followed by a that clause
For example, I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas
Now you write your own hope + that clause sentence.
______________________________________________________________

3. WANT is a good verb;
so, too, can you use WOULD LIKE (It’s a little more polite).
For example, I want a cup of coffee.
I would like a cup of coffee. I’d like a cup of coffee.


4. “a cup of good cheer” is referring to a glass of liquor or some drink (usually alcoholic) to be lifted together for wishes of good luck or good life or good health.


5. “Good tidings” means good news; good information.
There can also be sad tidings from someone.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-figgy-pudding.htm
**
It's amazing what a brief mention in one Victorian-era Christmas carol can do for an obscure little dessert called figgy pudding. Every year, thousands of people around the world become curious about the figgy pudding mentioned in the secular English carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Apparently, the party-goers mentioned in the lyrics refuse to leave until they get some figgy pudding from their host. This must be some seriously good pudding.

There are numerous recipes for figgy pudding, from a traditional steamed version similar to modern bread pudding to a pastry-covered blend of figs, dates, fruits and spices. Nearly all figgy pudding recipes call for three or four hours of steaming.


If you’d like to see a recipe for figgy pudding, go to this address:
http://homecooking.about.com/od/dessertrecipes/r/bldes108.

Here We Come A-Caroling

Here we come a-caroling
among the leaves so green.
Here we come a-wandering,
So fair, to be seen

Love and joy come to you,
and to you glad Christmas, too,
and God bless you and send you a Happy New Year,
and God send you a Happy New Year.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

You’d better watch out! 1.
You’d better not cry.
Better not pout.
I'm telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He's making a list,
and checking it twice;
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice. 2.
Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you're sleeping.
He knows when you're awake.
He knows if you've been bad or good,
so be good for goodness sake! 3.

O! You’d better watch out!
You’d better not cry.
Better not pout. 4.
I'm telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town.

VOCABULARY

1. “watch out” means a. be careful b. tell the time c. walk outside
2. What does “gonna” mean? _____________________________

3. “for goodness sake” is a nice way to say “for God’s/Christ/Pete’s sake meaning
“I am surprised” or “annoyed” or in this case “for a good reason –
For example, A: I just won the lottery.
B: For goodness sake.

C: I lost my keys again.
D: You lost your keys again? For goodness sake!

E: Don’t lose your keys again.
F: I know. It’s a bad idea.
E: For goodness sake, put them in your pocket.

4. “pout” (verb) means a. to shout b. to pound your fists on the table
c. to show displeasure by thrusting out the lips
GRAMMAR

A. Use a command with BETTER, meaning MUST or SHOULD.
For example, I’m tired. I’d better go home now.
I’m going to school. I’d better not be late.
She had better do her homework or the teacher will be angry.
You’d better not drive without insurance.

You try your own sentence with HAD BETTER.
1. __________________________________________________________________

B. Present Progressive tense is used to say what is happening NOW. It is also used to tell what is happening in the FUTURE.
For example, a. “Santa Claus is coming to town.” [This will happen soon.]
Can you find any other Present Progressive tense verbs?
b.
c.
d.
e.

Now you write your own present progressive sentences
f. (NOW) ____________________________________________________
g. (FUTURE) ____________________________________________________

C. Present Perfect tense tells about something that started in the past and continues to the present (and may even continue on into the future). It’s a past tense and gives you the feeling of SINCE or ALREADY or NOT YET or FOR (a certain period of time.
For example, You have been bad for a whole week.
You have been a good girl since yesterday.
I have not eaten lunch yet.
He has taken level 5 already.
Now you try to writing a present perfect sentence.
1. (has/have been) _______________________________________________
2. (has/have + another verb’s past participle)
__________________________________________________________________

CONVERSATION
1. Who is Santa Claus?

2. What kind of list is he making?

________________________________________________________________________
3. What do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?

© Gati 2008

Silver Bells

1.
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style.
In the air, there’s a feeling of Christmas.
Children laughing, people passing, meeting smile after smile,
And on every street corner you hear:

chorus
Silver bells, silver bells.
It’s Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring.
Soon it will be Christmas day.

2.
Strings of street lights, even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures.
Hear the snow crunch. See the kids bunch.
This is Santa’s big scene.
And above all this bustle you hear.

chorus
Silver bells, silver bells.
It’s Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring.
Soon it will be Christmas day.

VOCABULARY
1. When is Christmas Day? _____________________

2. There are two verses and one chorus in this Christmas song.
In the first verse, two words rhyme.
a. What word rhymes with “style”? ____________________

What words rhyme in the second verse?
b. _____________ rhymes with “green.
c. _____________ rhymes with “bunch”

In the chorus, there’s only one rhyme.
d. What words rhyme? _______ and _________
What’s another word that you can think of that rhymes with “d”? __________

3. What are the colors of Christmas? ___________ and ______________

4. The street lights “blink”. What does “blink” mean? ______________________
5. What does “Hear the snow crunch” mean?
_______________________________________________________________
6. What does it mean when it says, “See the kids bunch”?
________________________________________________________________
7. What’s a synonym for a “stop light”? ________________________________
8. Who is Santa? __________________________________________________

9. What does “bustle” mean? _____________________________________

GRAMMAR

There is a There’s a feeling of Christmas in the air.
1. What is the singular subject that goes with “is”? __________
2. Write your own “There is” sentence.
_______________________________________________________________________

There are There are Christmas lights everywhere.
What is the plural subject that goes with “are”? __________
4. Write your own “There are” sentence.
___________________________________________________

One rule. . . whatever subject is closest to THERE, determines the IS or ARE.
For example, There is a pencil and some pens on the desk.
There are some pens and a pencil on the desk.

You write two sentences like the examples above.
____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Teacher Held World Record

Edna Parker, 1893-2008

VOCABULARY
1. certified a. officially recognized b. jailed c. insured

2. a nursing home
a. a hospital
b. a huge house
c. a place where people live who need constant care

3. centenarian
a. a pet doctor b. a 100-year-0ld person c. 100 cents

4. childhood sweetheart
a. a boyfriend or girlfriend you had when you were very young
b. a valentine
c. a husband or wife

5. hired hands
a. dirty fingers
b. employees on a farm
c. factory workers

6. chores a. breakfast b. shouting c. household jobs

7. outlived (past tense)
a. lived longer than others b. lived outside c. died

8. survivors
a. pizza
b. a small portion of food
c. family members who live after the person dies

9. the meeting “took place” a. was at b. sat down c. led

10. lofty age a. left turn b. very old c. young

11. move in with “relatives”
a. family members b. friends c. teachers

12. “convalescent” center
a. a place to recover, for people who need constant care, before going back home
b. b. a cemetery
c. c. a school

13. a “fellow” resident
a. an apartment house
b. a person who lives in the same place
c. a saleswoman

14. Guinness World Records
a. the world series
b. a book that lists things or people that are the biggest/the longest/the strangest/
. . . that did the most unusual things in the world
c. music Cds

15. another “feat”
a. your other foot
b. something else you are able to do
c. a pair of shoes

16. aggregate age
a. the combined number b. a young person c. an old person

17. commended (past tense) a. remembered b. praised c. forgotten

18. starch
a. food such as rice or potatoes
b. soap to wash clothes
c. a strong smell

19. lard a. fat from pork b. to give money c. a lovely dinner

20. quipped (past tense)
a. put on a costume b. said as a joke c. questioned

21. her diet a. weight loss b. coke c. the food she eats

22. credited (past tense)
a. gave money b. got a loan c. gave the reason for

23. longevity a. a long life b. a long road c. a long time

24. retained a. returned b. threw out c. kept

25. a sense of humor
a. the ability to smell
b. the ability to make people laugh
c. the ability to sense danger

26. evident a. doubtful b. finished c. obvious
GRAMMAR
SUPERLATIVES are comparisons that use “THE” plus an adjective + EST
e.g. He is THE BEST dancer in the show.
She is THE PRETTIEST girl in the class.
This is THE MOST EXPENSIVE dress I have ever bought.

1. Can you find 7 superlatives in the article?
A .___________________________________________________________________
B .___________________________________________________________________
C .___________________________________________________________________
D .___________________________________________________________________
E .___________________________________________________________________
F .___________________________________________________________________
G .___________________________________________________________________

Now you write a sentence using ANOTHER superlative. (Don’t use any superlative that is an example or A-G.)

H .___________________________________________________________________

2. The verbs in this article are mainly in the past tense.
How many can you find? ______
How many present-tense verbs can you find? ________
How many verbs use modals? _________
How many future tenses can you find? ___________

CONVERSATION
Talk to your partner. Then write your answers in complete sentences.
1. Who was Edna Parker? _____________________________________________

2. Where did she live? ______________________________________________

3. How old was she when she died? _______________________________________

4. What are “supercentenarians?” ________________________________________

5. How many children did she have? Tell me about her family? Who are her survivors?

6. Benjamin Franklin said, “EARLY TO BED, EARLY TO RISE, MAKES A MAN HEALTHY, WEALTHY, AND WISE.” What do you think this saying means?





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