Fourth of July | Learn English and use English chat at English, baby!

Once again, it’s time to celebrate the birth of our nation. Don’t forget the beer!

Each year on the Fourth of July, Americans watch fireworks displays, have potlucks and barbecues, and eat foods like hamburgers, watermelon, potato salad, and apple pie. For many people, Independence Day is more about kicking back and having fun than remembering the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. But it seems like the founding fathers were pretty cool guys. So maybe they would have wanted it that way.

Listen to Ella explain to Mason why she loves the Fourth.

Ella: I’ve gotta say, Fourth of July is my favorite holiday.

Mason: Really?

Ella: I don’t know, the fireworks are just so awesome, and everyone’s just happy.

Mason: I gotta say, I crossed that threshold at some point in the last few years where, like, the fireworks stopped being awesome and started just being loud. And I was like, “I need these ears.” So, I’m just a grumpy old grouch about that aspect of Fourth of July.

Ella: Well, one of the fireworks displays I went to, it actually started a forest fire.

Mason: Really?

Ella: So, you know, I’ve seen the bad side of things. But it was kind of exciting at the same time, you know?

Mason: So as someone who’s into the holiday, do you feel that it’s more about the fireworks and the hot dogs and the potato salad, and it’s been abstracted from the anniversary of the founding of our nation?

Ella: Yeah, it kind of is distracting, but I feel like it brings everyone together too. ‘Cause it’s not a holiday where you have to fly out and try to meet the family. It’s just like you’re with your friends, you’re enjoying the time, eating food, potlucks, cook outs. It’s just like you’re all together.

Mason is surprised to learn that the Fourth of July is Ella’s favorite holiday. She loves it because it brings people together and makes people feel good. She also enjoys the fireworks. But Mason doesn’t like fireworks anymore. He thinks they’re too noisy and he’s worried about losing his hearing.

Ella admits that the way we celebrate the Fourth of July doesn’t have a lot to do with the anniversary of the founding of the country. But a lot of holidays are like that. The way we celebrate them doesn’t always reflect the true meaning of the day.

Do you have a national holiday like the Fourth of July? How do you celebrate it?

You’re vs. Your

Ella says that one of the reasons she likes the Fourth of July is that it’s a time when “you’re with your friends.” Do you know the difference between you’re and your in this sentence?

You’re is actually a contraction of “you are,” as in “You’re cute.” Contractions like this are especially common in spoken English.

Your is a possessive adjective. It describes a noun by telling us to whom the noun belongs, as in, “I love your new dress!” (The dress belongs to you.) Other possessive adjectives are: my, his, her, their, and our.

So which is correct, “Your Fourth of July potluck was a lot of fun,” or, “You’re Fourth of July potluck was a lot of fun”?