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Lesson 143 of 240

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A blizzard is coming in English

Danny is at the drugstore on Larch Street. A blizzard is coming, and Chicago is getting ready.

He is buying extra food and water. He tells Ana to stay off the roads.

Schools are closed tomorrow. The L may stop.

By the end, you'll warn people about a blizzard, say you are staying home, and ask if the trains are still running.

By the end of this lesson

Get ready for a blizzard, stock up, stay home, and check if trains still run.

  • A blizzard is coming.A very big snowstorm is coming.
  • Schools are closed tomorrow.There is no school tomorrow because of the snow.
  • We should stock up.We should buy extra food and water now.
  • Stay off the roads.Don't drive in this weather.
  • I'm staying home today.I will not go out today.
  • Are the trains still running?Are the trains still going in this weather?

Scene — snow at the drugstore

Snow is already on the sidewalk outside the drugstore. Danny stands at the counter with a basket of water, bread, and canned soup.

Ana walks in with her teal tote. The clerk bags more water. Across the street, the diner lights are on, but the L platform looks empty.

Danny gathers supplies at the counter as Ana enters from the snowy sidewalk.

Learn — blizzard and stay home

Six short lines cover a blizzard, closed schools, stocking up, and staying home.

You'll also ask if the trains are still running.

  1. Danny looks through the front window at the heavy snowfall, one hand resting on his basket.

    A blizzard is coming.

    A very big snowstorm is coming.

    When to use it: Say this when a very big snowstorm is on the way.

    Coming here is the -ing form for a storm on the way.

    Say it: The stress is on the first part.

  2. Ana steps just inside the drugstore doorway and turns toward the counter.

    Schools are closed tomorrow.

    There is no school tomorrow because of the snow.

    When to use it: Say this when snow stops school for the next day.

    Closed here means the schools will not open.

    Say it: The -ed in closed sounds like d.

  3. Danny nudges his basket of water, bread, and soup cans along the checkout counter.

    We should stock up.

    We should buy extra food and water now.

    When to use it: Say this when you need extra food before a storm.

    Learn stock up as one piece for buying extra food.

  4. Ana looks from the drugstore window toward the quiet, snow-covered street.

    Stay off the roads.

    Don't drive in this weather.

    When to use it: Say this when driving is not safe in the snow.

    This short line means do not drive now.

  5. Danny holds his filled basket and pauses beside the counter, ready to head home.

    I'm staying home today.

    I will not go out today.

    When to use it: Say this when you will not leave the house today.

    I'm is I am, said as one piece.

  6. Ana stands in profile near the doorway, looking across the snowy street toward the empty elevated train platform.

    Are the trains still running?

    Are the trains still going in this weather?

    When to use it: Ask this when snow may stop the trains.

    Running here is the -ing form for trains that still go.

    Say it: Are and the can link.

Story — danny stocks up

Watch Danny stock up at the drugstore. He wants Ana off the roads before the snow gets worse.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Danny holds a basket of water and soup.
  2. DannyA blizzard is coming.A very big snowstorm is coming.
  3. AnaA blizzard? Do people fight the snow?She thinks a blizzard is a fight with snow.
  4. DannyWell, a huge snowstorm. We should stock up.He explains the snow, then says they should buy extra food now.
  5. AnaStock up? Put the cans on a high shelf?She thinks stock up means put food up high.
  6. DannyBuy extra food now. Bread, water, soup.He tells her to buy extra food, not put it up high.
  7. The clerk bags the water and looks at a phone.
  8. ClerkSchools are closed tomorrow.There is no school tomorrow because of the snow.
  9. AnaI always take the Blue Line. Are the trains still running?She takes that train every time, and she asks if trains still go.
  10. ClerkThe L may stop, so check later.The trains might not run, so she should look again later.
  11. DannyStay off the roads.Don't drive in this weather.
  12. AnaI'm staying home today.I will not go out today.
  13. DannyIt depends on the weather. Take care.The plan changes with the sky. He wishes her well as she goes.

Practice — roads and trains

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    A blizzard is coming.Drop the Simple English here
    Schools are closed tomorrow.Drop the Simple English here
    We should stock up.Drop the Simple English here
    Stay off the roads.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What does it mean?

    Schools are closed tomorrow.

  4. What do you say?

    You and Danny need extra food and water before the snow. Tell him what you should do.

  5. Fill the gap

    Don't drive in this weather.

    Stay ____ the roads.

  6. Build the line

    I will not go out today.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Danny says:

    The buses already stopped. What about the L?

    He asks about the trains after the buses stop.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You hear there is no school tomorrow because of the snow.

    Schools are ____ tomorrow.

  9. True or false?

    This line means you almost never take that train.

  10. What do you say?

    Danny is leaving the drugstore with his bags. Wish him well as he goes.

  11. Fill the gap

    The plan changes if the sky is good or bad.

    It depends on the ____.

Say it — say it back

Now you're Ana at the drugstore. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. DannyYou hear the news?He asks if she already knows.
  2. Ana (you)Warn him a very big snowstorm is on the way.

    A blizzard is coming.

    A very big snowstorm is coming.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
A blizzard is coming.A very big snowstorm is coming.
Schools are closed tomorrow.There is no school tomorrow because of the snow.
We should stock up.We should buy extra food and water now.
Stay off the roads.Don't drive in this weather.
I'm staying home today.I will not go out today.
Are the trains still running?Are the trains still going in this weather?
Next: lesson 144The lost umbrella

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these blizzard lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps blizzard warnings ready before the snow.

Open Yak Cards