Castle Clinton

This round, sandstone fort sitting at the bottom of Manhattan Island predates Ellis Island by
about 50 years as the first U.S. immigration checkpoint. Castle Clinton (nps.gov/cacl) was
originally built as a fort to protect New York from a British invasion during the War of 1812, and
was dedicated as a national monument in 1946. In 2010, the fort was the most popular national
monument in the U.S., with 4,126,378 visitors.

Statue of Liberty
Perhaps the best-known monument and symbol of the United States is the Statue of Liberty
(nps.gov/stli), which sits on its own tiny island in New York City. The statue was a gift from the
people of France and was dedicated in October 1886. Since then, it has become a worldwide
symbol of freedom and democracy. A number of similar statues are located in France, including
one on the le aux Cygnes in Paris. In 2010, the statue received 3,833,288 visitors.

World War II Valor in the Pacific

Commemorating the part that American soldiers played in the second World War, World War II
Valor in the Pacific (nps.gov/valr) is an unusual monument spread across nine sites in three
states. Hawaii is home to five of the sites, including memorials to three ships --- the USS
Arizona, Utah and Oklahoma --- a series of officer's bungalows on Ford Island and a portion of
Battleship Row. An additional three sites are in Alaska and one is in California. Cumulatively,
World War II Valor in the Pacific welcomed 1,372,724 guests in 2010.

Americans share three national holidays with many countries: Easter Sunday,
Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Easter, which falls on a spring Sunday that varies from year to year, celebrates the
Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians, Easter is a day of
religious services and the gathering of family. Many Americans follow old traditions
of coloring hard-boiled eggs and giving children baskets of candy. On the next day,
Easter Monday, the president of the United States holds an annual Easter egg hunt
on the White House lawn for young children.
Christmas Day, December 25, is another Christian holiday; it marks the birth of the
Christ Child. Decorating houses and yards with lights, putting up Christmas trees,
giving gifts, and sending greeting cards have become traditions even for many nonChristian Americans.
New Year's Day, of course, is January 1. The celebration of this holiday begins the
night before, when Americans gather to wish each other a happy and prosperous
coming year.

UNIQUELY AMERICAN HOLIDAYS

Eight other holidays are uniquely American (although some of them have
counterparts in other nations). For most Americans, two of these stand out above
the others as occasions to cherish national origins: Thanksgiving and the Fourth of
July.
Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November, but many Americans take a
day of vacation on the following Friday to make a four-day weekend, during which
they may travel long distances to visit family and friends. The holiday dates back to

1621, the year after the Puritans arrived in Massachusetts, determined to practice
their dissenting religion without interference.
After a rough winter, in which about half of them died, they turned for help to
neighboring Indians, who taught them how to plant corn and other crops. The next
fall's bountiful harvest inspired the Pilgrims to give thanks by holding a feast. The
Thanksgiving feast became a national tradition -- not only because so many other
Americans have found prosperity but also because the Pilgrims' sacrifices for their
freedom still captivate the imagination. To this day, Thanksgiving dinner almost
always includes some of the foods served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry
sauce, potatoes, pumpkin pie. Before the meal begins, families or friends usually
pause to give thanks for their blessings, including the joy of being united for the
occasion.
The Fourth of July, or Independence Day, honors the nation's birthday -- the signing of
the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It is a day of picnics and patriotic
parades, a night of concerts and fireworks. The flying of the American flag (which
also occurs on Memorial Day and other holidays) is widespread. On July 4, 1976, the
200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was marked by grand
festivals across the nation.
Besides Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July, there are six other uniquely American
holidays.
Martin Luther King Day: The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., an African-American
clergyman, is considered a great American because of his tireless efforts to win civil
rights for all people through nonviolent means. Since his assassination in 1968,
memorial services have marked his birthday on January 15. In 1986, that day was
replaced by the third Monday of January, which was declared a national holiday.
Presidents' Day: Until the mid-1970s, the February 22 birthday of George
Washington, hero of the Revolutionary War and first president of the United States,
was a national holiday. In addition, the February 12 birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the
president during the Civil War, was a holiday in most states. The two days have
been joined, and the holiday has been expanded to embrace all past presidents. It is
celebrated on the third Monday in February.
Memorial Day: Celebrated on the fourth Monday of May, this holiday honors the
dead. Although it originated in the aftermath of the Civil War, it has become a day
on which the dead of all wars, and the dead generally, are remembered in special
programs held in cemeteries, churches, and other public meeting places.
Labor Day: The first Monday of September, this holiday honors the nation's working
people, typically with parades. For most Americans it marks the end of the summer
vacation season, and for many students the opening of the school year.
Columbus Day: On October 12, 1492, Italian navigator Christopher Columbus landed
in the New World. Although most other nations of the Americas observe this holiday
on October 12, in the United States it takes place on the second Monday in October.
Veterans Day: Originally called Armistice Day, this holiday was established to honor
Americans who had served in World War I. It falls on November 11, the day when
that war ended in 1918, but it now honors veterans of all wars in which the United
States has fought. Veterans' organizations hold parades, and the president
customarily places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National
Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.


Simple Present A: He speaks.
N: He does not
speak.
Q: Does he

speak?

action in the present taking

place once, never or several
times

action set by a timetable or

schedule

action taking place in the

moment of speaking

action taking place only for a

limited period of time

action arranged for the future

Present
Progressive

Simple Past

A: He is
speaking.
N: He is not
speaking.
Q: Is he
speaking?
A: He spoke.
N: He did not
speak.
Q: Did he
speak?

Past
Progressive

A: He was

speaking.
N: He was not
speaking.

Q: Was he
speaking?

Present Perfect A: He has

Simple
spoken.
N: He has not
spoken.
Q: Has he
spoken?

facts
actions taking place one after
another

always, every ,
never, normally, often,
seldom, sometimes,
usually
if sentences type I (If
Italk, )

at the moment, just,

just now, Listen!, Look!,
now, right now

yesterday, 2 minutes
ago, in 1990, the other
day, last Friday
if sentence type II (If
actions taking place one after Italked, )
another
action in the past taking
place once, never or several
times

action taking place in the

middle of another action
action going on at a certain
time in the past

when, while, as long as

actions taking place at the

same time
action in the past that is
interrupted by another action
putting emphasis on
the result

action that is still going on

action that stopped recently

finished action that has an

influence on the present

action that has taken place

once, never or several times
before the moment of speaking

Present Perfect A: He has been

Progressive
speaking.
N: He has not

putting emphasis on
the course or duration (not the

already, ever, just,

never, not yet, so far, till
now, up to now

all day, for 4 years,

since 1993, how long?,
the whole week

been speaking.
Q: Has he been

speaking?

Past Perfect
Simple

Past Perfect
Progressive

A: He had
spoken.
N: He had not
spoken.
Q: Had he
spoken?

finished action that

influenced the present

action taking place before a

certain time in the past

sometimes interchangeable
with past perfect progressive

putting emphasis only on

the fact (not the duration)

Future I Simple A: He is going

to speak.

N: He is not
(going to)
going to speak.
Q: Is he going
to speak?
Future I
Progressive

A: He will be
speaking.
N: He will not
be speaking.
Q: Will he be
speaking?

action that recently stopped

or is still going on

A: He had been
speaking.
N: He had not
been speaking.
Q: Had he
been speaking?

Future I Simple A: He will

speak.
N: He will not
speak.
Q: Will he
speak?

result)

action taking place before a

certain time in the past

already, just, never, not

yet, once, until that day
if sentence type III (If
I had talked, )

for, since, the whole

day, all day

sometimes interchangeable
with past perfect simple
putting emphasis on
the duration or course of an
action
in a year, next ,
tomorrow
If-Satz Typ I (If you ask
her, she will help you.)
spontaneous decision
assumption: I think,
assumption with regard to the
probably, perhaps
future
action in the future that
cannot be influenced

decision made for the future

conclusion with regard to the
future

action that is going on at a

certain time in the future

action that is sure to happen

in the near future

in one year, next week,

tomorrow

in one year, next week,

tomorrow

Future II
Simple

A: He will have
spoken.
N: He will not
have spoken.
Q: Will he have
spoken?

action that will be finished at by Monday, in a week

a certain time in the future

Future II
Progressive

A: He will have
been speaking.
N: He will not
have been

speaking.
Q: Will he have
been speaking?

action taking place before a

certain time in the future
putting emphasis on
the course of an action

for , the last couple of

hours, all day long

Conditional I
Simple

A: He would
speak.
N: He would
not speak.
Q: Would he
speak?

action that might take place

Conditional I
Progressive

A: He would be
speaking.

N: He would
not be
speaking.
Q: Would he be
speaking?

action that might take place

Conditional II
Simple

A: He would
have spoken.
N: He would
not have
spoken.
Q: Would he
have spoken?

action that might have taken

place in the past

Conditional II
Progressive

A: He would

have been
speaking.
N: He would

not have been

speaking.
Q: Would he
have been
speaking?

action that might have taken

place in the past

if sentences type II
(If I were you, I would
gohome.)

putting emphasis on
the course /duration of the action

if sentences type III

(If I had seen that,
I would have helped.)

puts emphasis on
the course / durationof the action

England is also called Albion because of her white coasts.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.