Describing Your Birthday
2025-02-21
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1Today, on Everyday Grammar, we will learn to describe our birthdays.
2When people ask us the question "When is your birthday?" we can answer a few different ways.
3We can use the season (spring, summer, autumn/fall, or winter), the month, or the day.
4My birthday is in the summer.
5Her father's birthday is in March.
6Last Sunday was her birthday.
7His birthday is the 4th of May.
8Remember that word "birthday" is different from "birthdate."
9"Birthdate" is the exact date, like December, 7th, 1997.
10The word "birthday" can be the date, or you can answer more generally.
11For example,
12My niece's birthday is in August.
13Her birthdate is August 3rd.
14When we want to say how old we are, we can use the present or future verb tenses depending on when our birthdays are.
15We can use the past tense with the verb "turn."
16If we are talking about a future birthday, say next year or in a few months, we can answer the question of "How old will you be?" with:
17I will be + (age). Or...
18I'll be + (number) years old.
19In 2023, I will be 36 years old.
20On your birthday, you can use the present tense.
21Deborah is 55 today.
22For the past tense, we can use the structure of the verb "be" + age (years old), but we generally use it to talk about past ages in reference to something else.
23We can also use the verb "turn" to talk about how old we are.
24In this way "turn" means to reach or pass a certain age.
25Therefore, we can use the past tense with "turn" for talking about birthdays. For example:
26I turned 35 this year.
27This means that my birthday was in the past. I am still considered to be 35 years old after my birthday.
28In the present tense, we can use "turn" to say that a birthday is "today." As in,
29Brad turns 60 today.
30And to express a future birthday, we can use the same form, the present tense.
31Kristen turns 41 this year.
32This means that sometime this year (the near future), Kristen will be 41 years old.
33We can use the modal verb of "will" with "turn" to express a future birthday.
34I will turn 36 next year.
35When talking about making plans for a birthday, someone may ask you: "What do you want to do for your birthday?"
36You can answer with ideas of plans that you would like to do.
37You can use the expressions:
38"I want to..." or "I would like to..." to be more polite.
39You can even use the expression "I + be going to" if you have already made the plans, yourself.
40She wants to go to a French restaurant for her birthday.
41I'm going to celebrate with my friends later.
42If your birthday has already past, someone may ask you,
43"How was your birthday?"
44You can answer by describing your birthday with an adjective.
45My birthday party was wonderful.
46Then they may ask you:
47"What did you do for your birthday?"
48You can answer in the past tense:
49For my birthday this year, we went to an amusement park.
50If someone wants to get you a gift for your birthday they may ask you:
51"What do you want for your birthday?"
52"What do you want on your birthday?"
53If you want something for your birthday that means a gift, generally.
54If you want something on your birthday that could be a party or to make some type of plans to celebrate on the actual date.
55On my birthday next year, I would like to go to the countryside.
56Please don't buy me anything for my birthday.
57After your birthday, people may ask what you received as a gift for your birthday:
58"What did you get for your birthday?"
59"What do you get on your birthday?"
60You could say that you got or received something.
61I got a cat for my birthday.
62Or you could say what you got and who gave it to you.
63My mom sent me a lovely birthday card in the mail.
64Here is how you might tell about another's birthday:
65Her husband gave her jewelry for her birthday.
66Let's end this report with a homework assignment.
67In 5-8 sentences, write about your birthday this year.
68Try to use ideas that you have learned about in today's report.
69You can use the question headings as your guide!
70Remember to use the correct verb tense depending on when your birthday is.
71Send your writing to our email address: learningenglish@voanews.com
72We will select one piece of writing and provide feedback and suggestions in a future report!
73I'm Faith Pirlo
74And I'm Jill Robbins.
1Today, on Everyday Grammar, we will learn to describe our birthdays. 2When is your birthday? 3When people ask us the question "When is your birthday?" we can answer a few different ways. 4We can use the season (spring, summer, autumn/fall, or winter), the month, or the day. 5My birthday is in the summer. 6Her father's birthday is in March. 7Last Sunday was her birthday. 8His birthday is the 4th of May. 9Remember that word "birthday" is different from "birthdate." "Birthdate" is the exact date, like December, 7th, 1997. The word "birthday" can be the date, or you can answer more generally. 10For example, 11My niece's birthday is in August. 12Her birthdate is August 3rd. 13How old are you? What age are you turning? 14When we want to say how old we are, we can use the present or future verb tenses depending on when our birthdays are. We can use the past tense with the verb "turn." 15If we are talking about a future birthday, say next year or in a few months, we can answer the question of "How old will you be?" with: 16I will be + (age). Or... 17I'll be + (number) years old. 18In 2023, I will be 36 years old. 19On your birthday, you can use the present tense. 20Deborah is 55 today. 21For the past tense, we can use the structure of the verb "be" + age (years old), but we generally use it to talk about past ages in reference to something else. 22We can also use the verb "turn" to talk about how old we are. In this way "turn" means to reach or pass a certain age. Therefore, we can use the past tense with "turn" for talking about birthdays. For example: 23I turned 35 this year. 24This means that my birthday was in the past. I am still considered to be 35 years old after my birthday. 25In the present tense, we can use "turn" to say that a birthday is "today." As in, 26Brad turns 60 today. 27And to express a future birthday, we can use the same form, the present tense. 28Kristen turns 41 this year. 29This means that sometime this year (the near future), Kristen will be 41 years old. 30We can use the modal verb of "will" with "turn" to express a future birthday. 31I will turn 36 next year. 32What do you want to do for your birthday? 33When talking about making plans for a birthday, someone may ask you: "What do you want to do for your birthday?" 34You can answer with ideas of plans that you would like to do. 35You can use the expressions: 36"I want to..." or "I would like to..." to be more polite. 37You can even use the expression "I + be going to" if you have already made the plans, yourself. 38She wants to go to a French restaurant for her birthday. 39I'm going to celebrate with my friends later. 40If your birthday has already past, someone may ask you, 41"How was your birthday?" 42You can answer by describing your birthday with an adjective. 43My birthday party was wonderful. 44Then they may ask you: 45"What did you do for your birthday?" 46You can answer in the past tense: 47For my birthday this year, we went to an amusement park. 48What do you want for/on your birthday? 49If someone wants to get you a gift for your birthday they may ask you: 50"What do you want for your birthday?" 51"What do you want on your birthday?" 52If you want something for your birthday that means a gift, generally. 53If you want something on your birthday that could be a party or to make some type of plans to celebrate on the actual date. 54On my birthday next year, I would like to go to the countryside. 55Please don't buy me anything for my birthday. 56What did you get for/on your birthday? 57After your birthday, people may ask what you received as a gift for your birthday: 58"What did you get for your birthday?" 59"What do you get on your birthday?" 60You could say that you got or received something. 61I got a cat for my birthday. 62Or you could say what you got and who gave it to you. 63My mom sent me a lovely birthday card in the mail. 64Here is how you might tell about another's birthday: 65Her husband gave her jewelry for her birthday. 66Homework 67Let's end this report with a homework assignment. In 5-8 sentences, write about your birthday this year. Try to use ideas that you have learned about in today's report. You can use the question headings as your guide! Remember to use the correct verb tense depending on when your birthday is. 68Send your writing to our email address: learningenglish@voanews.com 69We will select one piece of writing and provide feedback and suggestions in a future report! 70I'm Faith Pirlo 71And I'm Jill Robbins. 72Faith Pirlo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 73Describe your birthday. Tell us about your birthday in the comments below or write to us at learningenglish@voanews.com. 74_____________________________________________________ 75Words in This Story 76niece -n. the daughter of your brother or sister 77reference -n. the act of mentioning something in speech or in writing 78modal verbs - n. (grammar) verbs that are used to express possibility, ability, or necessity. 79amusement park - n. a place that has many games and rides (such as roller coasters and merry-go-rounds) for entertainment