Lesson 6: School, Time & Grammar
It/There, Time (UK Style), Schedules & Genitives
It vs There (The Big Contrast)
There is/are = Existence (Има).
It is = Identification / Description (То е).
It is = Identification / Description (То е).
1. There is / There are
Use for Existence ("Something is in a place").
- ✅ There is a book on the desk.
- ✅ There are two students here.
- ✅ There is water (uncountable).
2. Impersonal "It"
Use for Time, Weather, Distance, Description.
- ✅ It is 5 o'clock. (Time)
- ✅ It is raining. (Weather)
- ✅ It is difficult. (Opinion)
Common Mistakes
❌ There is 5 o'clock. -> ✅ It is 5 o'clock.
❌ It is a book on the table. -> ✅ There is a book on the table.
❌ It is a book on the table. -> ✅ There is a book on the table.
School Life
⚠️ Spelling Rule: Capital Letters
In English, School Subjects are always Capitalized.
✅ I like Maths and History.
❌ I like maths and history.
In English, School Subjects are always Capitalized.
✅ I like Maths and History.
❌ I like maths and history.
1. Subjects (Учебни предмети)
| Subject | IPA | Bulgarian | Example Sentence | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | /mæθs/ | Математика | I use a calculator in Maths. | |
| History | /ˈhɪs.tər.i/ | История | We study the past in History. | |
| Geography | /dʒiˈɒɡ.rə.fi/ | География | We use maps in Geography. | |
| Biology | /baɪˈɒl.ə.dʒi/ | Биология | Biology is about plants and life. | |
| Physics | /ˈfɪz.ɪks/ | Физика | Physics explains how things move. | |
| Chemistry | /ˈkem.ɪ.stri/ | Химия | We do experiments in Chemistry. | |
| Literature | /ˈlɪt.rə.tʃər/ | Литература | We read books in Literature. | |
| P.E. | /ˌpiː ˈiː/ | Физкултура | We play football in P.E. | |
| Art | /ɑːt/ | Изобразително | I like to draw in Art class. | |
| Music | /ˈmjuː.zɪk/ | Музика | We play the piano in Music. | |
| I.T. | /ˌaɪ ˈtiː/ | Информатика | We code in I.T. class. | |
| English | /ˈɪŋ.ɡlɪʃ/ | Английски | I learn new words in English. |
2. Actions at School (Действия)
| Action | IPA | Bulgarian | Example Sentence | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study | /ˈstʌd.i/ | Уча | I study every day. | |
| Learn | /lɜːn/ | Научавам | I learn new facts. | |
| Do homework | /duː ˈhəʊm.wɜːk/ | Пиша домашно | I do my homework at 5 PM. | |
| Take an exam | /teɪk ən ɪɡˈzæm/ | Държа изпит | We take an exam on Monday. | |
| Pass an exam | /pɑːs/ | Взимам изпит | I want to pass the exam. | |
| Fail an exam | /feɪl/ | Късат ме | I do not want to fail. | |
| Attend a class | /əˈtend/ | Посещавам час | We attend class at 9 AM. | |
| Take notes | /teɪk nəʊts/ | Водя записки | I take notes in History. | |
| Hand in work | /hænd ɪn/ | Предавам (работа) | We hand in our essays. |
Telling the Time (UK Style)
The UK uses the 12-hour system for speaking.
1. The Right Side (Past)
From minute 1 to 30, we say PAST.
- 09:05 → It is five past nine.
- 09:10 → It is ten past nine.
- 09:15 → It is quarter past nine.
- 09:30 → It is half past nine.
2. The Left Side (To)
From minute 31 to 59, we look to the NEXT hour.
- 08:35 → It is twenty-five to nine.
- 08:45 → It is quarter to nine.
- 08:50 → It is ten to nine.
- 08:55 → It is five to nine.
3. Key Vocabulary
| Time | Phrase | Bulgarian | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| XX:00 | O'clock | Часът е точно... | |
| XX:15 | Quarter Past | И петнадесет | |
| XX:30 | Half Past | И половина | |
| XX:45 | Quarter To | Без петнадесет | |
| 12:00 PM | Midday | Обед | |
| 12:00 AM | Midnight | Полунощ |
The Genitive Case ('s)
We use 's for two reasons. Compare them below.
1. Possessive (Ownership)
The noun OWNS the object.
- Tom's car. (The car of Tom)
- The teacher's pen. (Her pen)
- Sarah's bag.
2. Descriptive (Type/Purpose)
It describes the TYPE. No ownership.
- A children's hospital. (For kids)
- A teachers' room. (For teachers)
- A farmers' market. (Market type)
Examples of Descriptive Genitives
| Phrase | Translation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Children's book | Детска книга | A book for children. |
| Women's shoes | Дамски обувки | Shoes for women. |
| Driver's license | Шофьорска книжка | License for driving. |
| Boys' school | Момчешко училище | School for boys. |
Time Exercises
Practice Past, To, and AM/PM logic.
General Review
Practice School Vocab, Genitives, and It/There.
Light Novel: The Boss & The Exam
Characters: Mr. Smith (Left, The Boss) & Jake (Right, The Employee).
Mr. Smith always starts the conversation about his daughter.
Mr. Smith always starts the conversation about his daughter.
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Mini Games
Is it Possession (Ownership) or Type (Description)?
🔑 Ownership
(Tom's car)
(Tom's car)
🏷️ Type
(Children's book)
(Children's book)