English Learning for Beginners: Mountain Vocabulary
Dialogue
Alice: Hey Bob, how was your weekend? Did you finally conquer that mountain?
Bob: Oh, Alice, you won’t believe it! I tried, but the summit felt miles away. My legs are still screaming!
Alice: (Laughs) I told you to train! What happened? Did you get lost on the trail again?
Bob: Not lost, exactly. More like… “exploring alternative paths.” And then I saw a tiny squirrel with a really big acorn and got distracted.
Alice: A squirrel? Bob, you went all that way to be captivated by a squirrel?
Bob: Hey, it was a very determined squirrel! Anyway, the view from the halfway point was amazing. You could see the whole valley!
Alice: That sounds nice. Did you make it to the forest part? I hear it’s really peaceful there.
Bob: Yes, the forest was beautiful! But then I looked up and saw the cliff face… and realized I probably needed more gear than just my lunchbox.
Alice: (Chuckles) No backpack? No proper hiking boots? Bob, you’re an adventure waiting to happen… in a very unprepared way.
Bob: My old sneakers are fine! Mostly. I did slip once, almost rolled down to the next peak. Good thing I grabbed a sturdy tree branch!
Alice: Be careful! So, no summit for you this time, huh?
Bob: Not this time. My altitude sickness was really just “tired legs” sickness. But next time, I’m getting proper climbing lessons! And a bigger backpack.
Alice: Good plan! Maybe we can go together next time. I know a great mountain range not too far from here.
Bob: Really? With fewer determined squirrels, I hope? And maybe a flatter trail?
Alice: (Smiles) We’ll see, Bob. We’ll see. But it will definitely have a breathtaking view!
Current Situation
Talking about nature and outdoor activities is a popular topic in English conversations. Whether you’re planning a trip, describing a past adventure, or simply discussing the beautiful scenery, knowing basic mountain vocabulary can help you express yourself clearly and vividly. This lesson introduces common words related to mountains, trails, and hiking, allowing you to share your outdoor experiences or understand others’ stories about nature’s grand landscapes.
Key Phrases
- conquer that mountain: To successfully climb or overcome a mountain; often used metaphorically for achieving a difficult goal.
Example: I hope to conquer that mountain of paperwork by Friday!
- miles away: A long distance, often used to emphasize how far something is.
Example: The nearest gas station feels miles away right now.
- legs are screaming: An idiom meaning your legs are very tired or in pain from physical exertion.
Example: After running the marathon, my legs were screaming for a rest.
- get lost on the trail: To lose your way while following a path, especially in nature.
Example: We need a map so we don’t get lost on the trail.
- captivated by: To be very interested in something, so much that it holds all your attention.
Example: The children were captivated by the magician’s tricks.
- breathtaking view: An incredibly beautiful view that takes your breath away.
Example: From the top of the hill, the city lights offered a breathtaking view.
- adventure waiting to happen: Describes someone or something that is likely to encounter exciting or unexpected events, often implying a lack of preparation or a carefree attitude.
Example: With his old car and no map, he was an adventure waiting to happen.
Grammar Points
-
1. Past Simple Tense
Used to talk about actions that happened and finished in the past.
- Form: Subject + Verb (past form)
- Regular verbs: Add ‘-ed’ (e.g., walk → walked, try → tried).
- Irregular verbs: Have unique past forms (e.g., go → went, see → saw, feel → felt).
Examples from dialogue: “I tried, but the summit felt miles away.” “Did you get lost?” “I saw a tiny squirrel.” -
2. Adjectives
Words that describe nouns (people, places, things). They tell us more about the noun’s qualities.
- Position: Usually come before the noun they describe.
Examples from dialogue: “a tiny squirrel,” “a very determined squirrel,” “the whole valley,” “the beautiful forest,” “a sturdy tree branch,” “a breathtaking view.” -
3. “Going to” for Future Plans
Used to express future plans or intentions that have already been decided.
- Form: Subject + verb ‘to be’ (am/is/are) + ‘going to’ + base form of the verb.
Example from dialogue: “But next time, I’m going to get proper climbing lessons!”
Practice Exercises
1. Vocabulary Match:
Match the mountain vocabulary words with their meanings.
- Summit:
a) A path or track through a wild or natural area.
b) The highest point of a mountain. - Trail:
a) A low area between hills or mountains.
b) A path or track through a wild or natural area. - Valley:
a) A low area between hills or mountains, often with a river.
b) A high, steep rock face. - Cliff:
a) A bag carried on the back, especially by hikers.
b) A high, steep rock face. - Backpack:
a) A bag carried on the back, especially by hikers.
b) The highest point of a mountain.
2. Fill in the Blanks:
Use the words from the box to complete the sentences.
[ forest, view, peak, hike, altitude, range ]
- We decided to __________ to the top of the hill.
- The __________ from the mountain top was incredible.
- Many tall trees grow in the __________.
- Mount Everest is the highest __________ in the world.
- The Andes __________ is a very long chain of mountains.
- Some people feel sick at high __________.
3. Choose the Correct Past Simple Form:
Choose the correct past simple form for each sentence.
- Bob (try / tried) to climb the mountain.
- Alice (laugh / laughed) at Bob’s story.
- Bob (see / saw) a squirrel.
- He (slip / slipped) once.
- The summit (feel / felt) very far away.
4. Answer the Questions about the Dialogue:
- Did Bob reach the summit of the mountain?
- What distracted Bob on his hike?
- What did Bob lack for proper climbing?
- What does Alice suggest they do next time?
Answers:
1. Vocabulary Match:
- Summit: b) The highest point of a mountain.
- Trail: b) A path or track through a wild or natural area.
- Valley: a) A low area between hills or mountains, often with a river.
- Cliff: b) A high, steep rock face.
- Backpack: a) A bag carried on the back, especially by hikers.
2. Fill in the Blanks:
- We decided to hike to the top of the hill.
- The view from the mountain top was incredible.
- Many tall trees grow in the forest.
- Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.
- The Andes range is a very long chain of mountains.
- Some people feel sick at high altitude.
3. Choose the Correct Past Simple Form:
- Bob tried to climb the mountain.
- Alice laughed at Bob’s story.
- Bob saw a squirrel.
- He slipped once.
- The summit felt very far away.
4. Answer the Questions about the Dialogue:
- No, Bob did not reach the summit of the mountain.
- A tiny squirrel with a big acorn distracted Bob.
- Bob lacked proper gear (like a backpack and hiking boots) and proper climbing lessons.
- Alice suggests they go hiking together next time to a great mountain range.
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