Gifts

Posted by MichikoNakamura Fri, 23 Nov 2007 22:53:57 GMT

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Usually on a person's birthday, friends and family will give them a gift and a card. Children always look forward to their birthdays because they might get a lot of gifts. Of course when you get older, birthdays are not so important. As an adult, you might not receive as many gifts. But usually, you will still receive cards from your family and close friends. Read this opening conversation between two children:

Michael: What are you going to get Dad for his birthday?
Michiko: I don(t know. How about you?
Michael: Well, I can't get him a tie. I got him one last year.
Michiko: And you can't get him socks either. You got him a pair two years ago.
Michael: Hey, I know. Why don't we buy him something together.
Michiko: That's a great idea. Let's go to Liberty House and look for something together.
Michael: I have a better idea. Let's go to JC Penneys. It's more in my price range.
Michiko: OK.

Finding just the right gift for someone can sometimes be difficult. Sometimes it's easier to buy something with someone else. Read these example sentences:

"Why don't we buy something together?"

"Let's chip in and buy something together"

In the conversation above, they decided where to go shopping. They wanted to go to a cheaper shop. Read this example sentence.

"It's more in my price range"

Now, read this conversation at a birthday party:

Michiko: Happy birthday, Mike.
Michael: Thanks. And thanks for coming to my party.
Michiko: Here's a gift for you.
Michael: Thanks for the gift. I'll just put it on the table.
Michiko: Wow, look at all of those presents.

Did you notice what Michael said?

He said:

"thanks" for the gift.

Of course he could have said:

"Thank you" or just " Thanks"

Read these short examples:

Michiko: Here. I brought you a gift.
Michael: Thanks for the gift.

Michiko: Here. This is for you.
Michael: Thank you.

Michiko: Here's your gift. I hope you like it.
Michael: I'm sure I will. Thanks.

Giving and receiving gifts is fun. But when should you give gifts and what kinds of gifts are appropriate? The answers to these questions will be different in every culture. Last night, we talked about giving gifts on birthdays. But there are other times when giving a gift is appropriate. Of course the biggest gift giving time is at Christmas. Read this next conversation:

Michael: Hey Michiko, can I borrow some money?
I'm really broke. I spent all my money buying Christmas gifts.
Michiko: Oh, really. OK. How much do you need?
Michael: I just need a little money until my next pay check.
Michiko: OK. Here you are.
Maybe you'd better start saving now for the trip to Japan.

People spend a lot of money for Christmas gifts. In this conversation, Michael, needed to save money for traveling.   If you need to borrow money from someone, you can use one of these sentences. Read these example sentences:

"Can I borrow some money?"

"Would you lend me some money?"

In the conversation, Michael also said:

"I'm really broke"

That means, he doesn't have any money.It's not a good idea to loan money to people you don't know very well. You might not ever get paid back. Read this next conversation at a wedding reception:

Michiko: Wow, look at all of these gifts. I don't know where to begin.
Michael: Why don't you open the big ones first and then the small ones.
Michiko: OK, (sound of paper being unwrapped) Wow, it's beautiful. It a clock for the kitchen. How did you know we needed a clock.
Frank:     I've been to your apartment before and there wasn't a clock anywhere.
Michiko: Thank you.

Watching people open gifts can be fun. Before opening the gift, usually the couple will open the card and read it. Then they will say who it is from. When we give gifts to people, we try to remember what they don't have or what they really need. In the conversation above, she received a clock. She said:

"How did you know we needed a clock?"

The man answered:

"I've been to your apartment before and there wasn't a clock anywhere."

There are lots of other events where you are expected to give gifts. For example at wedding showers and baby showers. At baby showers, people usually give baby gifts like clothes or diapers or other baby things. Of course, it's hard to buy clothes for the baby unless you know what sex the baby is going to be.   Some people don't have any preference. In that case, they might say:

"Either one is fine"

or

"I'll be happy with a boy or a girl"

What are some other times when you might give a gift?

Michiko: How about on Valentines day?
Michael: Yeah, that's a good one.

Let's read this conversation between a father and his daughter.

Daughter: Did I get any mail today?
Father: Let me see. Yes you did. You got a letter from Anthony. Who's that?
Daughter: Oh, that's just some boy at school. He plays the violin in the school orchestra.
Father: He must be a special friend because there are hearts all over this card.
Daughter: Oh, he's just a friend.

Another important time to give gifts is on Mother's Day or Father's Day. Now, let's read this conversation on Mother's Day:

Johnny: Happy Mother's day.
Mother: Thank you.
Johnny: Here are some flowers.
Mother: Wow, they're so beautiful. I'll need something to put them in. Can you go in the kitchen and see if you can find a vase?
Johnny: Sure. I'll be right back. Here you are.
Mother: Thank you.
Johnny: Don't forget to read the card.
Mother: Oh, I almost forgot. "To the best mom in the world. Love Johnny." I think I'm going to cry.

Usually people like to give flowers on Mother's day. Along with the flowers, people usually give a card. It's polite to read the card in front of the person giving you the gift.

People can give flowers on any occasion. In the conversation above, Johnny gave his mother flowers. She asked her son to find a vase to put them in. Now, let's practice, everyone. Read this example sentence:

"Can you go in the kitchen and see if you can find a vase?"

There are many other situations where people give and receive gifts. One of the most important ones is for married couples. Every year they celebrate the day they were married. This is called an Anniversary. Some couples like to go out for dinner on that day or maybe take a trip together. Let's read this next conversation:

Michiko: Do you know what today is?
Michael: Sure. It's Wednesday. Why?
Michiko: It's our anniversary. How could you forget?
Michael: Uh, hmm. Oh, I didn't forget. I was planning to surprise you.
Michiko: Oh, really. And what were you planning to surprise me with?
Michael: That's a surprise. I can't tell you.

Probably the worst thing you could do is forget your wedding anniversary because that day is so important.

On any special occasion, people may ask:

"Do you know what today is?"

In the conversation above, the husband forgot the wedding anniversary.

At that time, the wife might use one of these sentences. Read these
example sentences:

"How could you forget?"

"What were you planning to surprise me with?"

Each wedding anniversary has a special meaning and there are lists of
gifts to buy for each year. For example, the first year is paper. So
you should buy something made of paper. Of course, the 25th is the
Silver Wedding Anniversary and the 50th is the Golden Wedding
Anniversary.

Now, read this final conversation:

Michael: Thanks for all of the nice gifts.
Michiko: It's no trouble. We're sorry we couldn't get you more.
Michael: No, these are great.

You know the old saying, "it's the thought that counts." I know that although these gifts are small, they are from the heart and so they are treasures to me.

If you can't buy an expensive gift, don't worry about it. Sometimes,
the cheaper gifts have more value because they come from the heart.