The turning leaf.
00:00 Share

The turning leaf. Beginners. Are there many trees where you live? What kind are they? Do their leaves change color and fall this time of year? We have many different trees in this valley. Naturally, most of them would not be here because it does not rain very much. However, this whole area is irrigated, so trees, plants, and grass can grow. In my garden there are many trees. Most are deciduous which means that they loose their leaves in the fall. It is a beautiful sight. As I look out of the window, I see yellow, orange, red, brown and pink leaves in the trees and on the ground. Now that the frost comes every early morning, the leaves look like they are covered in powdered sugar. The ground is crunchy, the air is cold and still. What a magical time! Grammar notes. Questions: are there..? are they..? do their leaves..? *Verb first, then subject. Further examples: Does he sing? Are you okay? Is it raining? Many and much. Many usually used with plural subjects, exs: many trees; many children; many people (singular but plural implied). Much used with negative verb or singular subject. Exs: He didn't have much luck; they don't have much sugar in the store. Useful words and expressions: Naturally, however, what a sight (beautiful/horrible etc), what a .... (boy, sight, nightmare, surprize etc). Advanced. The other day, when I dropped my daughter off at preschool, something tiny but sparkly caught my eye. It was a pair of frozen leaves on the grass, just outside the school. The pattern of their edges came to my attention, as they are maple leaves. Each leaf has between five and seven serrated looking triangles pointing out in a star-like fashion. The frost had dulled the true color of the leaves, but had, at the same time, added a soft, crystal covering, subtle like a lady's veil. The frost is a morning phenomena which melts away as the sun gets higher in the sky, so it is small treat, on a cold day, to see such a pretty picture. I suppose this time of year really signifies the end of a season, and a necessary death of a part of nature. But what beauty we see in the passing of one season to another! As the leaves twirl and flutter to the ground, they are butterflies playing, dancing around and through the serious and motionless trees. A similar contrast is seen in the bright bursts of Autumn sun which soon give way to dark clouds and shorter days. Grammar notes. Pluperfect tense: subject + had + past participle, exs: the leaves had fallen; the time had come; they had driven there etc. Metaphors. Exs: The leaves are butterflies; he is a pig; she is an angel. Useful expressions: To drop a person off/ to pick a person up; ...came to my (anybody's) attention; at the same time; to give way to.