Signs of a house sparrow comeback in the UK after decades of decline
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EN: Use 'was once' to talk about a state or habit that was true in the past, but is not true now.
This building was once a busy school.
EN: The house sparrow has been a familiar sight in British gardens for generations. Its steep decline in recent decades has made it a major symbol of wildlife conservation efforts in the UK.
EN: We use the simple past tense (lived) to talk about things that happened or existed in the past.
Many animals lived in this big forest.
EN: We use 'could' + base verb to talk about ability or possibility in the past.
We could hear the music from our room.
EN: Use 'over the past + time period' with the simple past or present perfect tense to talk about something that happened during a specific period up to now.
Over the past few years, many shops closed.
EN: House sparrows have historically been one of the most familiar urban birds in the UK, closely associated with traditional British gardens and city life. Their drastic decline became a major ecological concern across the country.
EN: Use 'was' to describe a past state or situation with a singular subject.
The traffic was very bad yesterday.
EN: London's house sparrow population dropped by over 90% between the 1920s and early 2000s, turning what was once the city's most common bird into a rare sight in central parks.
EN: Use the Simple Past Tense (e.g., 'counted') to talk about completed actions that happened at a specific time in the past (e.g., 'In 1925').
In 2010, she visited a famous park in London.
EN: London has many famous historical parks, such as Hyde Park and Regent's Park, which have traditionally been crucial green spaces for local bird populations.
EN: Use 'could + base verb' to talk about past ability (what someone was able to do in the past).
When I was young, I could run very fast.
EN: Use the simple past tense (verb + -ed) to talk about actions or events that happened and finished in the past.
The dinosaur vanished millions of years ago.
EN: In the UK, house sparrows have historically been a common part of urban wildlife, particularly in cities like London. Their dramatic decline over recent decades became a major environmental concern, prompting local conservation efforts to restore urban green spaces.
EN: We use 'There were' to say that more than one thing existed in the past.
There were many students in the classroom.
EN: Use 'and' to join two past actions done by the same subject. Notice that 'could not' is the past form of 'cannot'.
He closed the door and could not open it again.
EN: Use 'A and B' to connect two subjects doing the same action together.
Cats and dogs like to play in the yard.
EN: Use 'there are' to say that more than one thing exists right now.
There are many birds in the park.
EN: Use 'show that...' to introduce a fact or information discovered from research or study.
Studies show that eating vegetables is good for your health.
EN: Use 'can + base verb' to show present ability or possibility. Here, 'can see' means it is possible to see something.
We can see the moon from our window.
EN: Bird watching (or 'birding') is a very popular hobby in the UK. Many people keep track of bird numbers in their gardens and local parks to help wildlife conservation.
EN: Use 'can' + base verb to talk about sensory perception (things you can hear, see, smell, or feel in the present moment).
I can see a red car outside.
EN: Use 'news' as an uncountable noun. Even though it ends with 's', it takes a singular verb like 'is'. We use 'good news' to talk about positive information.
This is good news for our team.
EN: In the UK, nature conservation and protecting local birds like house sparrows are popular public issues. Organizations like the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) encourage people to count birds in their gardens.
EN: We use 'there is' to say that something exists. 'Still' means something continues until now, and 'a lot of' means a large amount.
There is still a lot of milk in the fridge.
EN: Use 'will need to + verb' to talk about something that is necessary to do in the future.
We will need to buy some food tomorrow.
EN: In the UK, modern farming practices have reduced natural habitats for wild birds. Environmental initiatives now encourage farmers to leave hedgerows and wildflower borders to help bird species recover.
EN: Use 'make + object + adjective' to describe changing someone or something into a certain state.
We should make the room clean.
EN: In the UK, countryside conservation is a major public interest, with large charities like the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) actively involving farmers to protect native wildlife.
EN: We use 'has lived' (present perfect) with 'for a long time' to talk about something that started in the past and still continues now.
My family has lived in this city for ten years.
EN: House sparrows in the UK have historically built nests in the gaps of roof tiles and walls of human houses, making them one of the most familiar urban birds in British culture.
EN: Use 'hope + (that) + clause' to talk about something you want to happen in the future.
I hope the weather will be nice tomorrow.
EN: House sparrows have been close companions to human settlements in the UK for centuries. Their sharp decline has raised strong public interest in local wildlife protection.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
The practice of protecting wild plant and animal species and their habitats.
Harmful substances in the air that can damage health and the environment.
A decrease in the number of individuals living in a specific area.
To increase in quantity or size of population.