COOKING FOR ONE

I enjoy cooking for myself when I am home alone. It feels relaxing to prepare my favorite meal. First, I think about what I want to eat. I usually choose something simple like pasta or a sandwich. I gather all the ingredients I need. Then, I start cooking step by step. I boil water for pasta or toast bread for a sandwich. I make sure everything tastes just right. I set the table with one plate and a glass of water. I sit down to enjoy my meal. Cooking for one is peaceful and satisfying. It helps me feel proud and independent.

Individual Sentences

1. I enjoy cooking for myself when I am home alone.
   Pattern: S + V + V-ing + Prep Phrase + Adv Clause

2. It feels relaxing to prepare my favorite meal.
   Pattern: S + V + Adj + Inf Phrase + Poss Adj + Adj O

3. First, I think about what I want to eat.
   Pattern: Adv + S + V + Adv Clause

4. I usually choose something simple like pasta or a sandwich.
   Pattern: S + Adv + V + O + Adj + Conj + O

5. I gather all the ingredients I need.
   Pattern: S + V + Adj O + S + V

6. Then, I start cooking step by step.
   Pattern: Adv + S + V + V-ing + Adv Phrase

7. I boil water for pasta or toast bread for a sandwich.
   Pattern: S + V + O + Prep Phrase + Conj + V + O + Prep Phrase + O

8. I make sure everything tastes just right.
   Pattern: S + V + Adv Clause + S + V + Adv Adj

9. I set the table with one plate and a glass of water.
   Pattern: S + V + Poss Adj + O + Prep Phrase + O + Conj + O

10. I sit down to enjoy my meal.
    Pattern: S + V + Adv Phrase + Inf Phrase + Poss Adj + O

11. Cooking for one is peaceful and satisfying.
    Pattern: V-ing + Prep Phrase + Aux + Adj + Conj + Adj

12. It helps me feel proud and independent.
    Pattern: S + V + S + V + Adj + Conj + Adj

Who Are You Talking To?

Just an example of how this phrase would be said in different environments:
Phrase: "Do you like cooking for yourself?"

1. Casual: "Hey, do you enjoy cooking for yourself?"

2. Intimate: "Sweetie, do you like making your own meals?"

3. Formal: "May I ask if you enjoy cooking for yourself?"

4. Business: "Could you explain why you enjoy cooking for yourself?"

5. Writing: "Please describe if and why you enjoy cooking for yourself."

Key Vocabulary

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

1. Relaxing – Making you feel calm and at ease.

2. Ingredients – Items needed to prepare a meal.

3. Toast – To brown bread by heating it.

4. Peaceful – Quiet and calm.

5. Independent – Able to do things on your own.

Comprehension Questions

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

1. When do I cook for myself?
   Sentence: ________________.

2. What kind of meals do I usually choose to cook?
   Sentence: ________________.

3. What do I boil for pasta?
   Sentence: ________________.

4. How do I set the table?
   Sentence: ________________.

5. Why is cooking for one special?
   Sentence: ________________.

Answers:

1. When I am home alone.

2. Simple meals like pasta or a sandwich.

3. Water.

4. With one plate and a glass of water.

5. It is peaceful and satisfying.

Speaking Activity

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

1. I enjoy cooking for myself when I am home alone. (Emphasizes who enjoys it)

2. I enjoy cooking for myself when I am home alone. (Emphasizes the activity)

3. I gather all the ingredients I need. (Emphasizes what is gathered)

4. Cooking for one is peaceful and satisfying. (Emphasizes the experience)

5. It helps me feel proud and independent. (Emphasizes the personal growth)

Writing Activity

Unscramble the Sentences:

1. Myself / enjoy / I / home / am / when / cooking / alone / I.
   Sentence: ________________.

2. Meal / prepare / favorite / my / relaxing / to / it / feels.
   Sentence: ________________.

3. Water / boil / for / I / pasta.
   Sentence: ________________.

4. Table / plate / set / with / one / and / glass / water / a / I / the.
   Sentence: ________________.

5. Cooking / peaceful / one / is / for / satisfying / and.
   Sentence: ________________.

Answers:

1. I enjoy cooking for myself when I am home alone.

2. It feels relaxing to prepare my favorite meal.

3. I boil water for pasta.

4. I set the table with one plate and a glass of water.

5. Cooking for one is peaceful and satisfying.

Create Activity

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

Words To Use: relaxing, ingredients, toast, peaceful, independent

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. I toast bread.

2. The ingredients are ready.

3. I cook in a peaceful kitchen.

4. I eat my toast slowly.

5. Cooking is relaxing.

Grammar Activities

Multiple-Choice Questions:

1. When do I cook for myself?
   a) When I am home alone
   b) On weekends
   c) At a party

2. What kind of meals do I usually choose to cook?
   a) Fancy meals
   b) Simple meals like pasta or a sandwich
   c) Large meals

3. What do I boil for pasta?
   a) Milk
   b) Water
   c) Oil

4. How do I set the table?
   a) With two plates
   b) With one plate and a glass of water
   c) With a bowl of soup

5. Why is cooking for one special?
   a) It is peaceful and satisfying.
   b) It is quick and easy.
   c) It is a family tradition.

Answers:

1. a) When I am home alone

2. b) Simple meals like pasta or a sandwich

3. b) Water

4. b) With one plate and a glass of water

5. a) It is peaceful and satisfying.

Natural Dialogue

Me: Do you like cooking for yourself?
Friend: Yes, I enjoy cooking for myself when I’m home alone.
Me: What do you usually cook?
Friend: I usually make something simple like pasta or a sandwich.
Me: Why do you enjoy it?
Friend: It’s peaceful, and it helps me feel independent.