Extended Family

alrighty then

So, let's talk about family today.
Alrighty then.

'Alrighty then' is an informal expression people use to show they are ready to continue or agree with what was just said. Notice the following:

1. Alrighty then, let's get started.
2. Alrighty then, I'll see you tomorrow.

only child

I'm an only child, but I have a very large extended family.

An 'only child' is a person who has no brothers or sisters. Notice the following:

1. She was an only child growing up.
2. I'm an only child, so I never had siblings.

extended family

I have a very large extended family.

Your 'extended family' includes relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, not just your parents and siblings. Notice the following:

1. We visit our extended family every summer.
2. My extended family lives in different countries.

ethnicity

What ethnicity are you?

Your 'ethnicity' is the cultural or national group that your family comes from. Notice the following:

1. The city has people from many different ethnicities.
2. She is proud of her ethnicity and traditions.

immigrated

My family immigrated from Türkiye about 20 years ago.

If people 'immigrated,' they moved to another country to live there permanently. Notice the following:

1. His grandparents immigrated to Canada.
2. Many families immigrated for better opportunities.

practice customs

Do you still practice Turkish customs?

To 'practice customs' means to continue following the traditions of your culture. Notice the following:

1. They still practice many local customs.
2. My family practices traditional holiday customs.

celebrate

We always have Turkish meals and celebrate Turkish days.

To 'celebrate' means to do something special for an important event or holiday. Notice the following:

1. We celebrate New Year's Day with our family.
2. They celebrated their wedding anniversary.

the elderly

The children actually go to the elderly.

'The elderly' refers to older people, especially those who are advanced in age. Notice the following:

1. The volunteers help the elderly every weekend.
2. Many services are available for the elderly.

the whole aim

The whole aim of it is to go to the elderly.

The phrase 'the whole aim' means the main purpose or goal of something. Notice the following:

1. The whole aim of the project is to help students.
2. The whole aim of the meeting was to solve the problem.

once again

The whole aim of it is, once again, to go to the elderly.

We use 'once again' to repeat or emphasize something that has already been said. Notice the following:

1. Once again, thank you for your help.
2. I'd like to explain the rules once again.

care about

We care about them.

If you 'care about' a person or thing, their condition, such as health, well-being, or happiness, is important to you. Notice the following:

1. I really care about my friends.
2. She cares about the environment.

thinking of

We are still thinking of them.

If you are 'thinking of' someone, they are in your thoughts or on your mind. Notice the following:

1. I was thinking of you yesterday.
2. We're thinking of our grandparents today.

both sides

I have a lot of extended family, on both sides.

Here, 'both sides' refers to your mother's family and your father's family. Notice the following:

1. I have cousins on both sides of my family.
2. We celebrate holidays with both sides.

too many to count

It's too many to count, really so.

The phrase 'too many to count' means there are so many that it is difficult or impossible to count them all. Notice the following:

1. There were too many stars to count.
2. She has too many books to count.

get together

Do you get together on the weekends?

To 'get together' means to meet socially with family or friends. Notice the following:

1. Our family gets together every Christmas.
2. Let's get together for lunch next week.

or anything like that

Do you get together on the weekends or anything like that?

We use 'or anything like that' to include similar activities or situations without naming them all. Notice the following:

1. Do you play sports or anything like that?
2. Have you been camping or anything like that?

pretty much do the same

Sounds so cool. I pretty much do the same.

The phrase 'pretty much do the same' means your actions are almost the same as someone else's. Notice the following:

1. We pretty much do the same every weekend.
2. My brother and I pretty much do the same job.

down by

We always try to organize some barbecues down by the beach.

The phrase 'down by' means near a particular place. Notice the following:

1. There's a nice café down by the river.
2. We met down by the station.

running around

We kids go running around everywhere.

'Running around' means moving from place to place in an active or playful way. Notice the following:

1. The children were running around the park.
2. I've been running around all day doing errands.