Family, Home & Relatives – Vocabulary, Phrases & Examples

Family, home, relatives

1 Compare different family structures in modern society. Describe a nuclear family and compare it with a large family. Give some advantages and disadvantages of both types.

Modern society: A family is a social unit consisting of a mother, father and children. They share certain goals and values and live together in one home. Modern family is monogamous and egalitarian. Married couples are expected to live faithfully without having love affairs.

Family´s values are: to love, to take care, help each other, support one another and so on. The family as an institution that provides protection, education, socialisation, and care for the aged, sick or disabled....

Human needs are: love, protection, responsibility, support, acknowledgement and so on. There are higher and lower needs

Maritual status: single, married, divorced, widow, widower

Family structures: the whole family; a family with divorced parents, single parent -a mother living with children without a father, parents, children and grandparents in one household

Nuclear family: father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sisterExtended family: grandfather, grandmother, great–grandfather, great–grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, uncle, aunt, cousin, nephew, niece, godmother, godfatherIn-laws: father in law, mother in law, sister in law, brother in law

Recontructed family: step-family: step-mother, step-father, step-sister, step-brother

Advantages and disadvantages: Small family –privacy, a few family members, silence, more space for housing

Big family- many members of the household, a lot of birthday parties, a lot of noise, little privacy and less space for housing

Describe your family (members, their appearance, character and interests). Which family structure is typical for your family.

My family supports me when I need it. They are with me in all the most important moments of my lives. Family makes home. At home I learn all the skills that I need for life: how to get on with people, how to be tolerant, selfdisciplined, polite and helpful. I have a small family-father, mother, brother, dog and cat. My dad works a lot and loves history. My mother is a housewife and math tutor. My brother is a student, he is married and enjoys life with his wife.

Character: strict, lively, friendly, helpful, tactful, thoughtful, attentive, trustworthy, reliable, responsible, diligent, obstinate, sincere, generous, moody, optimistic, pessimistic, talkative, shy, impatient, ambitious, lazy, hard-working, easy-going, cheerful, sensitive, punctual, emotional, hospitable, formal, casual, enthusiastic, quiet, tolerant, sophisticated, fun-loving, humorous, serious, romantic, insecure, competitive, frank, organized, cautious, old-fashioned, well-meaning, big-headed, strong-willed, broad-minded, self-confident, hard-working

Appearance: pretty, tall, slim,

Describe your relationships with the other members of your family. Who do you like most? Why?

Family relationship: are an important part of our lives, from birth of children, to weddings, to our old age.

We know many types of relationships, for examples: relationship between siblings, relationship between parents and their children is based on love. I have a very good relationship with all family members. We talk a lot, we laugh a lot, they are my best friends.

Relationship between grandparents and children: they spend a log of time together. Grandparents play with them, talk to them, sometimes teach them, when parents doesn’t have enough time.

Housework: are sometimes one of the biggest problems between parents and children. Children are lazy to help parents. Domestic chores: hovering, sweeping, ironing,cleaning, tidying up, making the bed, washing up, dusting, doing the shopping, folding clothes, polishing the shoes, taking out the rubbish …
Weekdays and family celebrations: in usual, ordinary day, has each family member certain obligations, so an ordinary day in family looks like as in any other.

Situation:Your parents have invited you to have Sunday lunch with them. Unfortunately, you cannot visit them because you have to go to work. Call them and explain why you cannot come.

Hello mom, I'm sorry, but I can’t visit you today. I'm today very busy. I will see you tommorow. Do you agree? Thanks mom, See ya 