EnglishNature chat
🌿 Talk about nature and the environment.
- What animals can you find in your country?
- Where do these animals live?
- What environmental problems worry you?
- Choose one: pollution / rubbish / damaged forests / climate change
Write useful words here:
Animals: ________ · ________ · ________
Places: ________ · ________ · ________
Problems: ________ · ________ · ________
We will use these ideas to talk about actions that happen to nature.
Nature and environment words
🌍 Listen, repeat, and use the words in a short sentence.
- forest [/ˈfɒrɪst/]
- a large area with many trees
Forests are protected. - river [/ˈrɪvə(r)/]
- a large natural stream of water
A river is water that moves to the sea. - wildlife [/ˈwaɪldlaɪf/]
- animals living in nature
Wildlife is protected in this park. - habitat [/ˈhæbɪtæt/]
- the natural home of an animal or plant
A habitat is a place which animals need. - species [/ˈspiːʃiːz/]
- a group of similar animals or plants
Some species are endangered. - pollution [/pəˈluːʃən/]
- dirty or harmful material in air, water, or land
Pollution is reduced in the city. - recycling [/ˌriːˈsaɪklɪŋ/]
- using materials again to make new things
Recycling is encouraged at school. - waste [/weɪst/]
- material that people throw away
Waste is collected every week. - climate change [/ˈklaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/]
- long-term changes in Earth’s weather and temperature
Climate change is discussed around the world. - endangered [/ɪnˈdeɪndʒəd/]
- at risk of disappearing forever
Many sea turtles are endangered. - protect [/prəˈtekt/]
- to keep somebody or something safe
Volunteers protect animals. - destroy [/dɪˈstrɔɪ/]
- to damage something very badly
Fires destroy forests. - reduce [/rɪˈdjuːs/]
- to make something smaller or less
We reduce plastic use. - reuse [/ˌriːˈjuːz/]
- to use something again
Glass bottles are reused. - environment [/ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/]
- the natural world around us
The environment is protected.
Say the word, then make one short sentence. 🗣️
Grammar for talking about nature
Present simple passive
Form
Subject | be | past participle |
|---|---|---|
Paper | is | recycled. |
A river | is | cleaned. |
Bottles | are | reused. |
Forests | are | protected. |
Passive = subject + is/are + past participle
Use is | Use are |
|---|---|
singular nouns | plural nouns |
uncountable nouns | |
The river is cleaned. | Rivers are cleaned. |
Pollution is reduced. | Trees are planted. |
When do we use the passive?
Use the passive when the person or group doing the action is:
Situation | Example |
|---|---|
unknown | The trees are cut down. |
unimportant | Paper is recycled. |
obvious | Animals are protected. |
Active and passive
Active sentence | Passive sentence |
|---|---|
People recycle paper. | Paper is recycled. |
Volunteers clean the beach. | The beach is cleaned. |
Local groups plant trees. | Trees are planted. |
The object in the active sentence becomes the subject in the passive sentence.
By + the person or group
Use by when the person or group is important.
Trees are planted by local groups.
Usually, we do not need by + agent:
Glass is recycled.
Defining relative clauses
A defining relative clause identifies the person, animal, or thing we mean.
Word | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
who | people | The scientist who studies animals works here. |
which | things and animals | The animal which lives here needs clean water. |
that | people, things, and animals | The animal that lives here needs clean water. |
For animals and things, which and that are both possible.
Two short sentences | One sentence |
|---|---|
This is a bird. It lives near rivers. | This is a bird which lives near rivers. |
This is a bird. It lives near rivers. | This is a bird that lives near rivers. |
She is a volunteer. She helps animals. | She is a volunteer who helps animals. |
Common mistakes
Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
Paper is recycle. | Paper is recycled. |
Forests is protected. | Forests are protected. |
The river who goes through the city... | The river which/that goes through the city... |
The woman which works here... | The woman who works here... |
Use a past participle after is/are: recycled, reused, protected, destroyed.
Use the grammar
Connect each action to its result
Connect the active sentence with the correct passive sentence.
Connect each active sentence with its passive result
- People collect glass bottles.
- Glass bottles are collected.
- Volunteers protect sea turtles.
- Sea turtles are protected.
- Farmers grow coffee in Brazil.
- Coffee is grown in Brazil.
Choose the correct passive form
Look at the subject: is it singular or plural?
- Plastic bags [___] in many shops.
- The water [___] every week.
- Old newspapers [___] into new paper.
- A lot of energy [___] by factories.
Complete the passive sentence
Use the present simple passive.
- People recycle paper. → Paper [___] .
- Volunteers clean the beach. → The beach [___] .
- Coffee [___] in Brazil.
- A fish is an animal that [___] in water.
Our Planet
Our Planet
Our planet is a beautiful home which is shared by people, animals, and plants. However, many environmental problems are caused by human activity. Every year, large areas of forest are destroyed for farms and roads. Animals that live in these forests lose their habitats. Some species are endangered because their homes are changed or polluted.
Water is also affected. Rivers which pass through cities are often filled with plastic and waste. In many places, rubbish is collected, but not all of it is recycled. This problem harms fish and birds that need clean water.
There are small actions which can help. Paper, glass, and metal are reused in recycling centres. Trees are planted by local groups. People who walk, cycle, or use public transport create less pollution. The environment is protected when everyone makes careful choices.
Difficult words
- human activity — actions done by people
- areas — parts of a place
- affected — changed or harmed by something
- filled with — containing a lot of something
- recycling centres — places where materials are processed and used again
- local groups — people from the same town or area
- public transport — buses, trains, and other shared transport
Talk about the article
- Why are large areas of forest destroyed?
- What happens to animals when forests are destroyed?
- What materials are reused in recycling centres?
- Which actions create less pollution?
Exit review
Key points
Passive: subject + is/are + past participle
- The river is cleaned.
- Bottles are reused.
- Forests are protected.
Relative clauses:
- who = people
- which = things and animals
- that = people, things, and animals
Nature vocabulary card
forest · river · wildlife · habitat · species
pollution · recycling · waste · climate change · endangered
protect · destroy · reduce · reuse · environment
Connect the prompt with the rule
Connect each prompt with the correct grammar rule
- one river
- is + past participle
- many trees
- are + past participle
- a scientist
- who
- a habitat
- which/that
Say and write
Write:
- One passive sentence about nature.
- One sentence with who, which, or that.
