Exercise 1
Choose the correct weather or season word to complete each sentence.
Example: It is very _____ today. I need my umbrella. (rainy / sunny / cold)
Answer: It is very rainy today. I need my umbrella.
Weather and Seasons in English
Understanding weather and seasons is one of the first and most important topics in English. We talk about the weather every day — with friends, family, and even strangers! In many English-speaking countries, especially the UK, weather is a very popular topic of conversation.
Imagine you are walking to school one morning. You look outside and see grey clouds. Your friend asks, "What's the weather like today?" You want to answer, but you are not sure of the words. After this lesson, you will know exactly what to say!
In this lesson, you will learn vocabulary for the four seasons, common weather words, and simple phrases to describe the weather around you.
Key Vocabulary and Meaning Breakdown
1. The Four Seasons
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| spring | noun — the season after winter; the weather becomes warmer and flowers begin to grow | The flowers are beautiful in spring. | in spring, early spring, spring weather |
| summer | noun — the hottest season of the year | We go to the beach in summer. | in summer, hot summer, summer holidays |
| autumn | noun — the season after summer; leaves fall from the trees (American English: fall) | The leaves turn red and orange in autumn. | in autumn, autumn leaves, autumn colours |
| winter | noun — the coldest season of the year | It snows a lot in winter here. | in winter, cold winter, winter clothes |
2. Common Weather Words
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| sun / sunny | noun / adjective — when the sun is shining brightly in the sky | It is a sunny day today. Let's go outside! | sunny day, sunshine, in the sun |
| rain / rainy | noun / adjective — water that falls from clouds in the sky | I need my umbrella because it is rainy. | heavy rain, light rain, rainy day |
| snow / snowy | noun / adjective — white frozen water that falls from the sky in cold weather | The children play in the snow. | heavy snow, snowy morning, snow falls |
| wind / windy | noun / adjective — air that moves quickly | It is very windy today — hold your hat! | strong wind, windy day, wind blows |
| cloud / cloudy | noun / adjective — a grey or white mass in the sky; cloudy means there are many clouds | The sky is very cloudy this morning. | dark clouds, cloudy sky, partly cloudy |
| fog / foggy | noun / adjective — thick cloud near the ground that makes it hard to see | Drive slowly — it is foggy outside. | thick fog, foggy morning, foggy weather |
| storm / stormy | noun / adjective — very bad weather with strong wind, heavy rain, and sometimes lightning | There was a big storm last night. | thunder storm, stormy night, bad storm |
| ice / icy | noun / adjective — frozen water on the ground or on surfaces | The roads are icy, so be careful. | black ice, icy road, ice on the ground |
3. Temperature and Feeling Words
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| hot | adjective — very high temperature; very warm | It is very hot in summer in Spain. | hot day, hot weather, very hot |
| warm | adjective — a pleasant, comfortable temperature; not too hot, not cold | Spring is warm and nice. | warm day, warm weather, nice and warm |
| cool | adjective — a little cold, but comfortable | The evening is cool in autumn. | cool breeze, cool day, nice and cool |
| cold | adjective — low temperature; the opposite of hot | It is very cold in winter. | cold day, cold weather, bitterly cold |
| freezing | adjective — extremely cold; below 0°C | I can't go outside — it is absolutely freezing! | freezing cold, freezing temperatures, it's freezing |
| temperature | noun — a number that tells us how hot or cold it is, measured in degrees | The temperature today is 5 degrees. | high temperature, low temperature, temperature drops |
Collocations and Useful Expressions
What's the weather like?
This is the most common question to ask about the weather.
"What's the weather like today?" — "It's sunny and warm!"
It is + weather adjective
Use "It is" (or "It's") to describe the weather. We always use "it" — not "he" or "she".
It's rainy. / It's cold. / It's windy.
It is raining / It is snowing
Use the present continuous (-ing form) to say rain or snow is happening now.
"Look outside — it is raining!"
"It is snowing! Let's make a snowman."
the sun + shines / is shining
The sun shines every day in summer.
Look — the sun is shining today!
the wind + blows
The wind blows very strongly in autumn.
in + season
Always use "in" before a season name.
In winter, I wear a coat. / In spring, the birds sing.
wear + clothes for the weather
When it's cold, I wear a coat and a scarf.
When it's rainy, I wear boots and take an umbrella.
Important Differences and Confusing Words
Hot, Warm, Cool, or Cold?
These four words all describe temperature, but they mean different things. Think of them as a line from very high to very low temperature:
Hot → Warm → Cool → Cold → Freezing
- Hot = very high temperature (e.g. 35°C in summer). It is too hot to walk outside today.
- Warm = comfortable and pleasant (e.g. 22°C). It is a lovely warm spring day.
- Cool = a little cold, but still comfortable (e.g. 15°C). The evening is cool — bring a light jacket.
- Cold = low temperature, uncomfortable (e.g. 3°C). It is cold outside — wear your coat!
- Freezing = extremely cold (e.g. 0°C or below). My hands are freezing — where are my gloves?
Rain (noun) vs Rainy (adjective) vs It's Raining (verb phrase)
- Use rain (noun) as a thing: I can hear the rain on the window.
- Use rainy (adjective) to describe a day or weather: It is a rainy day.
- Use it is raining (verb phrase) to say rain is happening now: It is raining outside right now.
Autumn (British English) vs Fall (American English)
Both words mean the same season — the season after summer when leaves fall from trees. Autumn is used in British English. Fall is used in American English. On this website, we use British English, so we use autumn.
- British English: I love the colours in autumn.
- American English: I love the colours in fall.
Common Mistakes
❌ Today is sunny.
✅ Today is a sunny day. or It is sunny today.
When we describe the weather with an adjective like sunny or rainy, we use "It is + adjective" or "Today is a + adjective + noun."
❌ She is raining outside.
✅ It is raining outside.
Always use it when talking about the weather. Never use "he," "she," or "they."
❌ In the winter, it is very cold.
✅ In winter, it is very cold.
Do not use "the" before the names of seasons. Say "in winter," "in summer," "in spring," "in autumn."
❌ The weather is rains today.
✅ It is raining today. or The weather is rainy today.
Do not say "the weather is rains." Use the adjective (rainy) after "the weather is," or use "it is raining."
❌ It is a cold. I need my coat.
✅ It is cold. I need my coat.
Do not use "a" before weather adjectives. Say "It is cold," not "It is a cold." (Remember: "a cold" is also a noun — an illness!)
❌ I like winter because is beautiful.
✅ I like winter because it is beautiful.
Do not forget the subject "it" in weather sentences.
Weather and Seasons: Quick Summary and Review
Great work! Here is a quick summary of what you have learnt in this lesson about weather and seasons in English:
- There are four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
- Common weather words include: sunny, rainy, cloudy, windy, snowy, foggy, stormy, and icy.
- Temperature words from hottest to coldest are: hot, warm, cool, cold, and freezing.
- Always use "it is" (not "he is" or "she is") to talk about the weather.
- Use "in" before seasons: in spring, in summer, in autumn, in winter.
- Use adjectives (sunny, rainy, cold) after "It is" and after "a + noun" (a sunny day, a rainy morning).
- Use the present continuous to say something is happening now: It is raining. / It is snowing.
Now practise weather and seasons vocabulary in the exercises below.
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