Lesson 25 Summer Festivals (Matsuri)
Topic Question: “What kind of festivals happen in Japan during the summer?”
▮ Try Answering the Question Yourself
Think about the types of festivals that are held in Japan during the summer months. These can include cultural, religious, or modern festivals that attract locals and tourists alike.
▮ Sample Answer
“During summer in Japan, people celebrate many festivals like Tanabata, Obon, and fireworks festivals. Tanabata involves writing wishes on paper, Obon honors ancestors, and fireworks festivals light up the night sky.”
▮ Words to Learn and Their Meanings about Sample Answer
－Pronounce the Words Correctly (Pronunciation Training) + Make Sentences Using the Words Instantly
- Festivals (祭り): Public celebrations or gatherings with specific themes or purposes.
- Tanabata (七夕): A Japanese festival based on a legend, celebrated by writing wishes on strips of paper.
- Obon (お盆): A Buddhist event for commemorating one’s ancestors.
- Fireworks (花火): Explosive devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes, typically during celebrations.
- Ancestors (先祖): Family members from past generations.
▮ Answer the Instructor’s Questions Based on the Sample Answer
- What is Tanabata, and how is it celebrated?
- What purpose does the Obon festival serve?
- What is a common feature of summer festivals in Japan?
▮ Mastering Middle School English Grammar
Regular and irregular verbs
A: Regular verbs
The simple past and past participle of regular verbs is -ed:
clean → cleaned / live → lived / paint→painted / study → studied
● I cleaned my room yesterday.
● Charlie studied engineering in college.
Past participle
have/has + past participle
● I have cleaned my room.
● Tina has lived in Miami for 10 years.
be (is/are/were/has been, etc.) + past participle
● These rooms are cleaned every day.
● My car has been repaired.
B: Irregular verbs
The simple past and past participle of irregular verbs do not end in -ed:
Sometimes the simple past and past participle are the same. For example:
● I made a cake yesterday. {simple past)
● I have made some coffee.(past participle – present pe,fect)
● Butter is made from milk.(past participle – present passive)
Sometimes the simple past and past participle are different. For example:
● Somebody broke this window lase night. (simple past)
● Somebody has broken this window.(past participle – present perfect)
● This window was broken lase nighc.(past participle – past passive)
Example Sentences:
- People celebrate the Tanabata festival by writing wishes.
- Obon has been observed for centuries in Japan.
- Fireworks light up the sky during summer festivals.
- Many ancestors are honored during the Obon festival.
Make Sentences Based on the Above Example Sentences Yourself:
