New here? This is lesson 48 of a free 240-lesson English course.
My family in English
Dee asks Ana about her family at the Blue Plate. She wants a short answer, not a long list.
Ana starts to name everyone. Dee waits, coffee pot in hand.
By the end, you'll ask who is in a family, say how many people, and name a sister.
You can also say you have no brothers or sisters.
By the end of this lesson
Say who is in your family and how many.
- Do you have any brothers or sisters?Ask if someone has siblings
- I'm an only child.I have no brothers or sisters
- This is my ___.I am showing you this family member
- There are ___ people in my family.This is how many people are in my family
- I have a sister.I have one female sibling
- How many people are in your family?Ask the number of people in someone's family
Scene — a photo on the phone
Same morning at the Blue Plate on Larch Street. Ana sits at the counter with her phone in her hand. Dee pours coffee and looks at the photo.
Murray sits on two stools at the end. His black coffee is still full. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.
Learn — who is in your family
Six short lines help you talk about family. You can ask, count, and name a sister.
You'll also learn a line for no brothers or sisters.
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Ask if someone has siblings
When to use it: Ask this to learn if someone has a brother or sister.
Learn it as one piece when you ask about family.
Say it: The th in brothers sounds like the.
I'm an only child.
I have no brothers or sisters
When to use it: Say this when you have no brother or sister.
Learn it as one piece for no brother or sister.
Say it: The stress is on only.
This is my ___.
I am showing you this family member
When to use it: Say this when you show a family photo.
Learn it as one piece when you show someone.
There are ___ people in my family.
This is how many people are in my family
When to use it: Say this to tell the number of people.
Learn it as one piece for the number of people.
I have a sister.
I have one female sibling
When to use it: Say this when you have at least one sister.
Learn it as one piece to name one sister.
How many people are in your family?
Ask the number of people in someone's family
When to use it: Ask this to learn the number of people.
Learn it as one piece when you ask how many.
Say it: The stress is on the first part of family.
Story — the short answer
Watch Dee ask about family. She wants a short answer, not a long list.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- Dee leans on the counter. Ana has a photo on her phone.
DeeDo you have any brothers or sisters?Ask if someone has siblings
AnaI have a sister. And my mom, my dad.She names her sister, then starts a long list.- DeeHow many, hon?you ask the number of things
MurrayHow many people are in your family?Ask the number of people in someone's family- AnaThere are four people in my family.This is how many people are in my family
- Ana holds up the photo on her phone.
- AnaThis is my sister.I am showing you this family member
- MurrayI'm an only child.I have no brothers or sisters
- MurrayI don't have any brothers.He has no brothers.
- He looks at the pie case and loses the thread.
Practice — sisters and how many
Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
English
Do you have any brothers or sisters?Drop the Simple English hereI'm an only child.Drop the Simple English hereI have a sister.Drop the Simple English hereHow many people are in your family?Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
Which one doesn’t belong?
Which one doesn’t belong?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
I'm an only child.
Pick the reply
Dee says:
Pick the reply
How many people are in your family?
Ask the number of people in someone's family
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
Ask the number of people in someone's family
?
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Dee says:
Pick the reply
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Ask if someone has siblings
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
You have one sister. Tell Dee.
I have a ____.
True or false?
True or false?
This line asks for a price.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You hold up a family photo and name the person.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Ask the number of people in someone's family
How ____ people are in your family?
Say it — say it back
Now you're Ana at the counter. 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.
- DeeDo you have any brothers or sisters?Ask if someone has siblings
- Ana (you)Tell her you have one sister.
Tell her you have one sister.
I have a sister.
I have one female sibling
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Do you have any brothers or sisters? | Ask if someone has siblings | |
| I'm an only child. | I have no brothers or sisters | |
| This is my ___. | I am showing you this family member | |
| There are ___ people in my family. | This is how many people are in my family | |
| I have a sister. | I have one female sibling | |
| How many people are in your family? | Ask the number of people in someone's family |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these family lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your family lines ready.
Open Yak Cards