TAKING CARE OF A PLANT

Hanna has a small plant in her room. It is a green fern with soft leaves. She waters the plant every morning. She pours just enough water to keep the soil moist. Hanna places the plant by the window. The sunlight helps the plant grow. Sometimes, she wipes the leaves gently with a damp cloth. Hanna talks to her plant and tells it to grow big and strong. She loves seeing new leaves on the plant. Hanna feels happy taking care of her fern. She is proud of how healthy it looks. Taking care of her plant is her favorite daily task.

Individual Sentences

1. Hanna has a small plant in her room.
   Pattern: S + V + Adj O + Prep Phrase + Poss Adj + O

2. It is a green fern with soft leaves.
   Pattern: S + Aux + Adj O + Prep Phrase + Adj O

3. She waters the plant every morning.
   Pattern: S + V + Poss Adj + O + Adv Phrase

4. She pours just enough water to keep the soil moist.
   Pattern: S + V + Adv + Adj O + Inf Phrase + O + Adj

5. Hanna places the plant by the window.
   Pattern: S + V + Poss Adj + O + Prep Phrase + O

6. The sunlight helps the plant grow.
   Pattern: S + V + O + Inf Phrase

7. Sometimes, she wipes the leaves gently with a damp cloth.
   Pattern: Adv + S + V + Poss Adj + O + Adv + Prep Phrase + Adj O

8. Hanna talks to her plant and tells it to grow big and strong.
   Pattern: S + V + Prep Phrase + Poss Adj + O + Conj + V + O + Inf Phrase + Adj + Conj + Adj

9. She loves seeing new leaves on the plant.
   Pattern: S + V + V-ing + Adj O + Prep Phrase + Poss Adj + O

10. Hanna feels happy taking care of her fern.
    Pattern: S + V + Adj + V-ing + O + Prep Phrase + Poss Adj + O

11. She is proud of how healthy it looks.
    Pattern: S + Aux + Adj + Prep Phrase + Adj Clause

12. Taking care of her plant is her favorite daily task.
    Pattern: V-ing + Prep Phrase + Poss Adj + O + Aux + Poss Adj + Adj Adj O

Who Are You Talking To?

Just an example of how this phrase would be said in different environments:
Phrase: "How do you take care of your plant?"

1. Casual: "Hey, how do you take care of your plant?"

2. Intimate: "Sweetie, what do you do to keep your plant healthy?"

3. Formal: "May I ask how you maintain your plant’s health?"

4. Business: "Could you share your method for taking care of your plant?"

5. Writing: "Please describe how you take care of your plant."

Key Vocabulary

To help you recall the words faster, draw a picture, create a sentence, or a story for each word.

1. Plant – A living thing that grows in soil.

2. Fern – A type of plant with soft, green leaves.

3. Moist – Slightly wet or damp.

4. Leaves – The flat, green parts of a plant.

5. Sunlight – Light from the sun.

Comprehension Questions

Refer back to the story if you need to answer the following questions.

1. What kind of plant does Hanna have?
   Sentence: ________________.

2. Where does Hanna place her plant?
   Sentence: ________________.

3. How does Hanna clean the leaves?
   Sentence: ________________.

4. What does Hanna tell her plant?
   Sentence: ________________.

5. How does Hanna feel about taking care of her plant?
   Sentence: ________________.

Answers:

1. A green fern.

2. By the window.

3. With a damp cloth.

4. To grow big and strong.

5. Happy and proud.

Speaking Activity

Practice placing stress on the bolded words to change the message of the sentence.

1. Hanna has a small plant in her room. (Emphasizes who has the plant)

2. Hanna has a small plant in her room. (Emphasizes the type of plant)

3. She pours just enough water to keep the soil moist. (Emphasizes the purpose)

4. Hanna talks to her plant and tells it to grow big and strong. (Emphasizes her instructions)

5. Taking care of her plant is her favorite daily task. (Emphasizes the importance)

Writing Activity

Unscramble the Sentences:

1. Hanna / room / plant / her / has / in / a / small.
   Sentence: ________________.

2. Green / fern / is / soft / leaves / with / it / a.
   Sentence: ________________.

3. Waters / Hanna / the / plant / morning / every.
   Sentence: ________________.

4. Wipes / damp / gently / Hanna / cloth / leaves / the / with / a.
   Sentence: ________________.

5. Proud / feels / Hanna / healthy / it / looks / of / how.
   Sentence: ________________.

Answers:

1. Hanna has a small plant in her room.

2. It is a green fern with soft leaves.

3. Hanna waters the plant every morning.

4. Hanna wipes the leaves gently with a damp cloth.

5. Hanna feels proud of how healthy it looks.

Create Activity

Follow the sentence pattern and build sentences with the following words:

Words To Use: plant, fern, leaves, sunlight, care

1. S + V + O.
   Sentence: ________________.

2. S + V + Adj + O.
   Sentence: ________________.

3. S + V + O + Prep Phrase.
   Sentence: ________________.

4. S + V + O + Adv.
   Sentence: ________________.

5. S + Aux + V + Adj.
   Sentence: ________________.

Answers:

1. Hanna waters her plant.

2. The fern is green.

3. She places the plant near the window.

4. Hanna wipes the leaves gently.

5. The plant looks healthy.

Grammar Activities

Multiple-Choice Questions:

1. What kind of plant does Hanna have?
   a) A cactus
   b) A green fern
   c) A flower

2. Where does Hanna place her plant?
   a) On her bed
   b) By the window
   c) In the kitchen

3. How does Hanna clean the leaves?
   a) With a brush
   b) With a damp cloth
   c) With water

4. What does Hanna tell her plant?
   a) To grow big and strong
   b) To stay small
   c) To stop growing

5. How does Hanna feel about her plant?
   a) Sad
   b) Proud and happy
   c) Tired

Answers:

1. b) A green fern

2. b) By the window

3. b) With a damp cloth

4. a) To grow big and strong

5. b) Proud and happy

Natural Dialogue

Me: What kind of plant do you have?
Friend: I have a small green fern.
Me: How do you take care of it?
Friend: I water it every morning and keep it by the window.
Me: Do you talk to your plant?
Friend: Yes! I tell it to grow big and strong.