Reflexive pronouns

Reciprocal pronouns
Lesson 30
Correlative conjunctions:
either ....... or
Thirtieth Lesson
neither ....... nor
both ....... and

The Spirit of
not only ........ but also

Christmas
GRAMMAR-PRACTICE-DIALOG

Christmas is almost around

the corner. In the United
States, the spirit of this
holiday arrives about a
month before Christmas
itself.

The Stevenses and the

Browns are really smart
shoppers. In late November
or early December, they
buy their gifts to avoid
the Christmas rush, which
makes shopping a chore.

Joan, Bob, Millie, and Joe, as well as thousands of Americans, earn extra money by getting part-
time jobs so that they can buy all they wish to give their relatives as Christmas presents. They find
special pleasure in shopping during this holiday because a large variety of beautiful gifts appear in
countless window displays with the traditional Christmas colors: red, green, silver, and gold.
Santa Claus, snowmen, angels, shepherds, and nativity scenes form a cheerful environment
which is the delight of children.

Mr. Stevens himself has decorated the house with mistletoe and evergreens. Joan and Millie have
made ornaments, by themselves, with candy canes and strings of cranberry and popcorn to
decorate the Christmas tree.

Mrs. Stevens has already fixed the Christmas dinner – all by herself.

The most lovely and significant aspects of the holiday take place at home and at church. The
Stevenses and the Browns go to church on Christmas Eve. The next day, on Christmas Day, they
gather around the Christmas tree and open their presents. They not only exchange gifts, but
also listen to Christmas carols, and then, they enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner; that is: turkey or
ham, sweet potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, and nuts. For dessert, there is usually
fruitcake, plum pudding, or mince pie.

December is a month for merriment. Two significant holidays are celebrated: Christmas and New
Year. After this, another year comes with new hopes and great expectations.

english course Book Two - Lesson Thirty 197

 i n g
shopper

g
L
L e a
e
r
a r
n n
i n
Do you know why the story says that “Christmas is around
the corner”?
.............................................................................................
What happens in the USA a month before Christmas?
present .............................................................................................
When do the Stevenses and the Browns go shopping for
their Christmas gifts?
.............................................................................................
Is it a good idea to buy Christmas gifts in advance?
.............................................................................................
What do you avoid by getting your Christmas gifts in
advance?
window display
.............................................................................................
Do you consider shopping a chore?
.............................................................................................
snowman .............................................................................................
Have you ever had a part-time job before Christmas?
What for?
.............................................................................................
Is there a variety of gifts in the shops during this holiday?
.............................................................................................
What are the traditional Christmas colors?
.............................................................................................
Is Christmas celebrated in your country?
.............................................................................................
angel
If it is, how do you celebrate it?
.............................................................................................
What do children feel delighted about during Christmas?
.............................................................................................

9 to 5
full-time shepherd
job
7 to 11
part-time
job

nativity scene
198 Book Two - Lesson Thirty english course
 LeaLeranrning
Who has decorated the Stevenses’ house? ing
..................................................................................................
How is it decorated?
..................................................................................................
What have Joan and Millie made?
..................................................................................................
Have you ever decorated a Christmas tree? ornaments
..................................................................................................
What did you use to decorate it?
..................................................................................................
Has Joan fixed the Christmas dinner?
..................................................................................................
If not, who has? evergreen
..................................................................................................
Do the most significant aspects of the holiday take place at the
stores?
..................................................................................................
If not, where do they take place?
..................................................................................................
Where do the Stevenses and the Browns go on Christmas Eve? candy canes
..................................................................................................
What do they do the next day?
..................................................................................................
Have you ever exchanged Christmas gifts?
..................................................................................................
With whom?
..................................................................................................
Describe the traditional American Christmas dinner. mistletoe
..................................................................................................
Is it the same in your country?
..................................................................................................

sweet
potatoes
popcorn

ham
fruitcake

english course Book Two - Lesson Thirty 199

reciprocal pronouns

r n i
r n
n i
g n g
Lea
L e a
star

wreath Christmas tree candle

candlestick

Christmas stocking

Christmas is the merriest time of the year for millions of Christians all over the world. On December
the 25 they celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ, although the exact date of His (*) birth is not known.
Christmas is a holiday of love and hope that gets to join families together in an environment of peace
and joy.
For a long period of time, Christmas was only a religious festival. Christians observed these holidays
with ceremonies and prayers; but gradually, they have adopted customs that have no relation
with the church itself.
Houses are decorated with colored lights and evergreens. The Christmas tree is decorated with
ornaments and lights. People give each other Christmas cards and gifts.
The commercial activity of Christmas represents one-fourth of the stores annual sales.
In many stores, a man dressed up as Santa Claus listens to children who ask him for the presents
that they would like to receive at Christmas. But, who is Santa Claus? He’s the American symbol
of this holiday. His name is a derivation of “Saint Nicholas” – who was a bishop famous for his
generosity, especially with children.
There are many different customs to celebrate Christmas in each country, and the aim is not only to
be together in peace, but also to wish one another the best of all for the coming year.
* (His begins with a capital H because it refers to God.)

200 Book Two - Lesson Thirty english course

 LeaLeranrning
at Christmas = during the Christmas season
on Christmas Eve= the day before Christmas
on Christmas (Day) = December 25 ing
Who celebrates Christmas?
..................................................................................................
When is it celebrated? ceremony

..................................................................................................
What do Christians celebrate on this date?
..................................................................................................
How would you describe Christmas?
..................................................................................................
Was Christmas celebrated in the same way all the time?
..................................................................................................
How are houses decorated for this holiday? Santa Claus
..................................................................................................
Why do people exchange cards and gifts?
..................................................................................................
Explain the influence of Christmas on the commercial aspect.
.................................................................................................. bishop
Who’s Santa Claus?
..................................................................................................
Who was Saint Nicholas?
..................................................................................................
Do you consider Christmas an important holiday?
..................................................................................................
What’s the aim of Christmas?
..................................................................................................
Do you think that December is a month for merriment?
..................................................................................................
How do you celebrate New Year? generosity
..................................................................................................

english course Book Two - Lesson Thirty 201

 a r y
u l a r y
o
Vo
V c cab u l
ab
VERBS
adopt to start using a particular custom
appear to come into view
avoid to get or keep away from
celebrate to commemorate an event
decorate to make something more attractive by adding ornaments; to adorn
display to arrange things for people to look at: a window display
dress up to put on different clothes and pretend to be someone else
earn to receive money for one’s labor or service
observe to follow customs or perform rituals connected with a festivity
represent to be the equivalent of; to signify
ADJECTIVES
annual yearly; occurring once a year
cheerful pleasant or enjoyable; happy
Christian relating to Christianity; a follower of Jesus Christ
countless too numerous to be counted; innumerable
exact right; precise; true; correct
lovely very attractive; beautiful; delightful; adorable
significant very important; relevant; memorable
smart intelligent; clever
traditional conventional; established; attached to old customs
ADVERBS
especially particularly
gradually in a gradual manner; by degrees
CONJUNCTION
so / so that used to express a purpose, meaning in order to
NOUNS
aim intention; purpose
angel a spiritual, celestial being
birth the act of being born
bishop a Christian clergyman above a priest
candy cane a long thin piece of candy with red and white stripes shaped like a hook
Christmas December 25, celebrated by Christians as the day when Jesus Christ
was born
Christmas Eve the day or evening before Christmas Day
cranberry a sour red berry that grows on bushes used in juices, sauces, jelly, etc.
cranberry sauce a sauce made from cooked cranberries and sugar
custom a habitual or traditional practice
delight great happiness and pleasure
derivation the source from which a word is derived; origin
environment physical or emotional surroundings
evergreen a tree or plant that remains green all year round
festival a day or period of celebration

202 Book Two - Lesson Thirty english course

 VocaVobcabula
ularryy
fruitcake a cake containing dried fruit and nuts
generosity kindness; willingness in giving
gold the color of gold; a bright and yellow color tending to be brown
ham a piece of meat from the thigh of pork, usually smoked
holiday a day or days of festivity to commemorate an event and on which most
businesses do not have to open
merriment happiness; joyful activities
mince pie a sweet pie filled with small pieces of apple, dried fruit and spices
mistletoe a bush with greenish-yellow leaves and white berries
nativity scene a representation of the birth of Jesus Christ
nut a dry fruit with kernels inside a hard woody shell which grows on some types
of trees
one-fourth one of 4 equal parts of something; 25%
ornament an object used for decoration; adornment
plum pudding a sweet dessert like a cake made of plum and other fruits
popcorn a snack consisting of grains of corn that puff out when they are heated
prayer a spiritual communication with God
present a gift
relation a significant association; a connection
rush a period of hurry; busy activity
Santa Claus the figure of a fat, long-bearded man who brings gifts to good children on
Christmas Eve
shepherd a man whose job is to take care of sheep
shopper someone who visits stores to look at and buy things
silver a light gray color
snowman a figure of a person made of snow
sweet potato a sweet root that looks like a potato
variety a number of different things; diversity
window display a window frame in a store to exhibit goods to the public; a show window

COMMON EXPRESSIONS
commercial activity a specific line of work intended to promote sales
gather around to get, come, or bring together around a place
part-time job a job that demands less time than a standard full-time job or regular schedule

english course Book Two - Lesson Thirty 203

 r
reflexive pronouns

a
reciprocal pronouns

mm
m a r
a ram
G
G r
Pronouns
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive Pronouns
I myself
you yourself
he himself SINGULAR (f ending)
she herself
it itself
we ourselves
you yourselves PLURAL (ves ending)
they themselves

They are used in the following cases:

1. When the subject and the object have the same referent. That is, when the subject and the object are the same.
The Stevenses enjoy themselves at Christmas.
I cut myself while I was shaving this morning.
We saw ourselves on TV the other day.
Sometimes Reflexive Pronouns can be objects of prepositions.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
Mr. Stevens has bought a watch for himself.
You only think about yourself.
2. To express emphasis on the subject or on the object. In the first case, pronouns can take two positions.
I myself painted the whole house.
I painted the whole house myself.
In the case of emphasizing the object, it has only one position.
We spoke to Mr. Jones himself.
3. Preceded by the preposition by meaning alone or without help.
Suzy likes living by herself.
Ted can fix that machine by himself.
Sometimes the preposition by can be preceded by all for emphasis.
Ted can fix that machine all by himself.

Reciprocal Pronouns
Each other and one another express mutual action or relationship.
They love each other. - Bill loves Jenny, and Jenny loves Bill.
We know one another. - I know Carl, and Carl knows me.

Be careful: R
eflexive Pronouns and Reciprocal Pronouns are not the same.
Luke and Cindy bought each other presents. - Luke bought a present for Cindy, and Cindy bought
a present for Luke

Luke and Cindy bought themselves presents. - Luke bought a present for himself, and Cindy bought
a present for herself

204 Book Two - Lesson Thirty english course

 GraGm
correlative conjunctions
not only ... but also

ramm
Correlative Conjunctions
maar r
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs, joining words, phrases, or clauses of equal rank.
As you know (lesson 15 – Book 1), either ... or, neither ... nor, both ... and, introduce parallel structures:

You can call him either today or tomorrow.

TIME TIME

I’d like to travel either to China or to India.

PLACE PLACE

Danny likes neither fish nor shellfish.

NOUN NOUN

Your comments are neither interesting nor important.

ADJECTIVE ADJECTIVE

My cousin both works and takes evening courses.

ACTION ACTION

She drives both slowly and carefully.

ADVERB ADVERB

In this lesson, we are introducing ‘not only ... but also,’ with the same rules.

I check my e-mail not only in the morning, but also at night.

TIME TIME

Martin speaks not only English, but also French.

NOUN NOUN

The movie was not only long, but also boring.

ADJECTIVE ADJECTIVE

Henry not only goes to school, but also works part time.
ACTION ACTION

• When we use ‘either ... or,’ ‘neither ... nor,’ or ‘not only ... but also’ to connect subjects, the verb
form goes according to the second subject.

Either my wife or my children were at home.

PLURAL

Either my children or my wife was at home.

SINGULAR

Other examples:
Neither Jason or I am going to the party.
Not only Clark, but also his girlfriend works here.

• When we use ‘both ... and’ to connect subjects, the verb is always plural.

Both Lynn and I are in Mr. Adams’ class.

Both my cousin and her friend like these movies.

english course Book Two - Lesson Thirty 205

No
N otteess

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206 Book Two - Lesson Thirty english course

 PractPiractice
ce n°n° 30
30
I. Marcy is writing another letter to Sandra. Help her finish it by filling in the
blanks with the following words:

himself – myself – her – but also – herself – ourselves – he – themselves –

him – me – one another – not only – yourself – you - each other

Hi, Sandy.

Thanks for your last letter. I’m really glad to know that you and Ken are getting along so
each other . I’m sure you will marry .............................
well. You two really love ..................................
someday. Let me tell you what’s going on around here.

Well, now that Christmastime has started, everyone’s mood is getting merrier.
We are all making plans for the celebrations. As you know, the Christmas Tree is
Dad’s job. He really enjoys .............................................. while he decorates it. And of
course, Mom is going to prepare the Christmas dinner all by .................................... .
Well, almost all the dinner. Guess who is in charge of the turkey this year. That’s right,
.............................! Believe it or not! I ..........................................volunteered to do it. I
found this great recipe on the web, and I think it will be a success.

By the way, Annie -my new best friend here- and I have gotten ......................................
part-time jobs in a coffee shop downtown, you know, to have some extra cash for
Christmas presents. We help ................................... a lot at work. I really like ...................,
and I’m sure you will too, once you both meet.

And last but not least, I have some great news. Freddy and I have been dating for two
weeks now. ..........................................is so cute! He is .............................................very
intelligent ,.................................... really ambitious, and I like that. As Benjamin Franklyn
said: ‘God helps those who help ........................................... .’ I’ll tell ..............................
............ all about him on your next visit.

Well, Sandy, write back soon and take care of ........................................... .

Kisses

Marcy

english course Book Two - Lesson Thirty 207

 n°
° 3
30
0
Pra
ac
ct
ti
ic
ce
e n
Pr II. Join the following sentences using correlative conjunctions.
Examples:
We can go to the movies. We can go to a pub. (either ... or)
We can go either to the movies or to a pub
...........................................................................................................................................
Judy doesn’t eat beef. She doesn’t eat pork. (neither ... nor)
Judy eats neither beef nor pork
...........................................................................................................................................
Tom works for us. His brother works for us. (both ... and)
Both Tom and his brother work for us
...........................................................................................................................................
Lucy goes to college. She has a part-time job. (not only ... but also)
Lucy not only goes to college, but also has a part-time job
...........................................................................................................................................

1. You can stay here. You can come with us. (either ... or)
........................................................................................................................................
2. I didn’t buy the dress. I didn’t buy the blouse. (neither ... nor)
........................................................................................................................................
3. We are going to visit Japan. We are going to visit Korea. (not only ... but also)
........................................................................................................................................
4. I’ll go to the bank tomorrow. I’ll go to the bank the day after tomorrow. (both ... and)
........................................................................................................................................
5. Ted is going to call you. I am going to call you. (either ... or)
........................................................................................................................................
6. Mary doesn’t know. She doesn’t care about it. (neither ... nor)
........................................................................................................................................
7. I know Mrs. Lucas. I know her husband. (both ... and)
........................................................................................................................................
8. The new secretary is very efficient. She is really friendly. (not only ... but also)
........................................................................................................................................
9. They can take a written test. They can take an oral exam. (either ... or)
........................................................................................................................................
10. John hasn’t arrived yet. Carl hasn’t arrived yet. (neither ... nor)
........................................................................................................................................
11. We will fly to Cancun. We will fly to Aruba. (not only ... but also)
........................................................................................................................................
12. My sister speaks French. She speaks Italian. (both ... and)
........................................................................................................................................

208 Book Two - Lesson Thirty english course

 PractPiractice
ce n°n° 30
30
III. Write a composition about Christmas. You may use the following ideas:

where do you spend Christmas? - who do you spend it with? - what do you do on
Christmas Eve? - do you have any particular customs at Christmastime? - what would you like
your next Christmas to be like? - what does a Christmas dinner consist of in your country? -
what are your best memories in previous years?

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english course Book Two - Lesson Thirty 209

 3 0
l
g
e l
s e
s s o n 3 0
son
Di
Di a l o
a
g
l o
Dialog 30

Christmas Presents

Bob: Hey, Joan! Is that for me?

Joan: Don’t touch it! It’s for.., I’m not telling you!
Bob: Don’t tell me you did it yourself!
Joan: Yes, all by myself; it’s going to be a great Christmas!
Alice: Hi, kids! What are you doing there?
Joan: Oh! Ah! Mom! What?
Alice: Hiding something?
Bob: Joan! What are you hiding?
Joan: Nothing! Bob! Get out!
Alice: OK, children, no fighting; please; Christmas is almost here.
I’m going downstairs.
Joan: Phew! That was close!
Bob: So, that’s for Mom! Got it!
Joan: Shut up; it’s not for her! Besides, my point is to do things
by ourselves. We should save money.
Bob: Please, Joan! You think Mom and Dad are going to make us
our presents themselves? Give me a break.
Joan: Do whatever you want, Bob. I’m just saying it’s better to
do something by yourself, with your own hands... Oh, who
am I talking to! Please!!
Bob: Bye, sister. I smell something delicious downstairs.
Joan: Food, food, that’s all you care for.
Hey! Close the door on your way out !

210 Book Two - Lesson Thirty english course