rain
water falling from clouds; also a weather verb
It rains here in June.
Lesson 5 of 13 · A1–A2
Weather, time, and everyday things
Use it to describe the weather, say the time, and refer to one thing.
1. Grammar: It is / It has / It takes
Use it for weather and time without naming a thing first: It is sunny. It is ten o’clock. Use it to refer back to one thing: My bag is blue. It is small. It has describes a feature; it takes describes the time needed. Ask Is it …? or Does it have/take …?
- It is + adjective. → It is cold.
- It is + time. → It is nine o’clock.
- It has + noun. → It has two pockets.
- It takes + time. → It takes ten minutes.
- Is it cold? → Yes, it is. / No, it isn’t.
- Does it have a pocket? → Yes, it does.
Model conversation
A: Is it cold today?
B: Yes, it is. This is my coat. It is warm.
A: Does it have pockets?
B: Yes, it does. It has two pockets.
2. Basic words and verbs
Say each word, read its meaning, and make a sentence using the example.
sunny
with bright light from the sun
It is sunny today.
cloudy
with many clouds in the sky
It is cloudy today.
cold
having a low temperature
It is cold outside.
hot
having a high temperature
It is hot today.
warm
a little hot in a pleasant way
My coat is warm.
time
what a clock shows
What time is it?
minute
sixty seconds
It takes one minute.
a small part of clothing used to hold things
It has a pocket.
take
to need an amount of time
It takes ten minutes.
light
not heavy
My bag is light.
heavy
weighing a lot
My bag is heavy.
3. Conversation: 15 questions
Answer with a complete sentence. Open an answer starter if you need help, then replace the dots with your own words. Take turns asking and answering.
Is it sunny today?
Answer starter
It is / isn’t sunny today.
Is it cloudy today?
Answer starter
It is / isn’t cloudy today.
Is it hot or cold outside?
Answer starter
It is … outside.
What time is it now?
Answer starter
It is …
Is it morning or afternoon now?
Answer starter
It is … now.
What day is it today?
Answer starter
It is … today.
Look at your bag. What color is it?
Answer starter
It is …
Is your bag light or heavy?
Answer starter
It is …
Does your bag have a pocket?
Answer starter
It has / doesn’t have a pocket.
Look at a shirt or coat. Is it warm?
Answer starter
It is / isn’t warm.
Does it have buttons?
Answer starter
It has / doesn’t have buttons.
Think of your trip to a nearby shop. Does it take ten minutes?
Answer starter
It takes … minutes.
How long does it take to walk to a nearby bus stop?
Answer starter
It takes … minutes.
Is it easy to say your name in English?
Answer starter
It is easy / difficult.
Look at one thing in the room. What is it like?
Answer starter
It is … and it has …
4. Say it again
Choose three questions and answer again without the starters. Use at least three words from the word bank. Your partner can listen for the grammar pattern, then help you repeat the sentence.