WHEN THE WIND BLOWS

I sat by the window, watching the trees sway in the wind. It was a quiet evening, but the wind seemed to have something to say. It howled through the branches, making them creak and moan. The sound was calming yet eerie, as if nature was telling a secret. I closed my eyes and listened carefully. Suddenly, a loud gust rattled the windows. I jumped, feeling a strange chill. The wind had stopped. It was as if it had left in a hurry, leaving only silence behind. I shivered, wondering what message the wind had tried to deliver.

Individual Sentences

1. I sat by the window, watching the trees sway in the wind.
   Pattern: S + V + Prep Phrase + V-ing + O + Prep Phrase

2. It was a quiet evening.
   Pattern: S + V + Adj + O

3. The wind seemed to have something to say.
   Pattern: S + V + Infinitive + O

4. It howled through the branches, making them creak and moan.
   Pattern: S + V + Prep Phrase + V-ing + O + Conj + V

5. The sound was calming yet eerie.
   Pattern: S + V + Adj + Conj + Adj

6. I closed my eyes and listened carefully.
   Pattern: S + V + O + Conj + V + Adv

7. Suddenly, a loud gust rattled the windows.
   Pattern: Adv + S + V + O

8. I jumped, feeling a strange chill.
   Pattern: S + V + V-ing + O

9. The wind had stopped.
   Pattern: S + Aux + V

10. It was as if it had left in a hurry.
    Pattern: S + V + as if + S + Aux + V + Prep Phrase

11. I shivered, wondering what message the wind had tried to deliver.
    Pattern: S + V + V-ing + O + S + Aux + V + Infinitive

12. The wind had stopped.
    Pattern: S + Aux + V

13. I wondered what message the wind had tried to deliver.
    Pattern: S + V + O + S + Aux + V + Infinitive

14. The wind had left in a hurry.
    Pattern: S + Aux + V + Prep Phrase + O

15. The wind had tried to deliver a message.
    Pattern: S + Aux + V + Infinitive + O

Who Are You Talking To?

Just an example of how this phrase would be said in different environments:
Phrase: "Do you hear the wind blowing?"

1. Casual: "Hey, do you hear the wind blowing?"

2. Intimate: "Sweetie, do you hear that wind howling?"

3. Formal: "May I ask if you hear the wind blowing?"

4. Business: "Can you tell me if the wind is blowing outside?"

5. Writing: "Please let me know if you hear the wind blowing."

Key Vocabulary

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

1. Window – An opening in the wall of a building to let light and air in.

2. Howl – A long, loud cry or noise, often made by the wind or animals.

3. Branches – The limbs of a tree that grow from the trunk.

4. Chill – A feeling of coldness.

5. Message – A communication or information sent from one person or thing to another.

Comprehension Questions

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

1. Where was the narrator sitting?
   Sentence: ________________.

2. What did the wind do to the branches?
   Sentence: ________________.

3. What did the narrator feel when the wind stopped?
   Sentence: ________________.

4. What did the narrator wonder?
   Sentence: ________________.

5. What happened when the wind blew?
   Sentence: ________________.

Answers:

1. By the window.

2. It howled through the branches.

3. The narrator felt a chill.

4. The narrator wondered what message the wind had tried to deliver.

5. The wind rattled the windows and howled through the branches.

Speaking Activity

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

1. I sat by the window, watching the trees sway in the wind. (Emphasizes the subject)

2. I sat by the window, watching the trees sway in the wind. (Emphasizes the location)

3. I sat by the window, watching the trees sway in the wind. (Emphasizes the action)

4. I sat by the window, watching the trees sway in the wind. (Emphasizes the object of the action)

5. The wind howled through the branches. (Emphasizes the action)

Writing Activity

Unscramble the Sentences:

1. I / sat / the / window / by / at.
   Sentence: ________________.

2. The / wind / branches / through / howled / the.
   Sentence: ________________.

3. I / closed / my / eyes / and / listened.
   Sentence: ________________.

4. The / gust / rattled / the / loud / windows.
   Sentence: ________________.

5. I / wondered / the / wind / message / had / delivered.
   Sentence: ________________.

Answers:

1. I sat by the window.

2. The wind howled through the branches.

3. I closed my eyes and listened.

4. The loud gust rattled the windows.

5. I wondered what message the wind had delivered.

Create Activity

Follow the sentence pattern and build sentences with the following words:
Words To Use: window, wind, howl, branches, message

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

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

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

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

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

Answers:

1. The wind howled.

2. The wind howled through the branches.

3. The wind howled loudly.

4. The wind had howled.

5. The wind delivered a message through the branches.

Grammar Activities

Multiple-Choice Questions:

1. Where was the narrator sitting?
   a) By the door
   b) By the window
   c) In the kitchen

2. What did the wind do to the branches?
   a) Made them bend
   b) Made them break
   c) Howled through them

3. What did the narrator wonder?
   a) What the wind was doing
   b) What message the wind had tried to deliver
   c) Why the wind was so loud

4. What happened when the wind stopped?
   a) It was silent
   b) It rained
   c) It started again

5. What did the narrator feel when the wind stopped?
   a) Peaceful
   b) Cold
   c) Calm

Answers:

1. b) By the window

2. c) Howled through them

3. b) What message the wind had tried to deliver

4. a) It was silent

5. b) Cold

Natural Dialogue

Me: Do you ever listen to the wind?
Friend: Sometimes, I love the sound of it howling.
Me: Yeah, it can be so calming. What do you think it’s trying to say?
Friend: I’m not sure, but it always feels like it’s delivering a message.
Me: I agree, it’s like nature’s way of communicating.