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Short funny stories in English are a fun way for beginners to practice English. “Onions and Garlic” is a simple and funny story for A1 learners. It uses easy words, short sentences, and simple grammar. Read the story and find out what happens to two brothers who want to become rich.
The story has been rewritten especially for English language learners.
Contents
Onions and Garlic – Short funny stories in English
Onions and Garlic
Long ago, there were two brothers. Their names were Joshua and Eli. They lived on a small farm. They were very poor.
Joshua worked hard every day. Eli was lazy. He did not like working.
One day, Joshua heard about a far-away country. He learned that people there did not have onions. Joshua had an idea.
“If I take onions there, I can sell them for a lot of money,” he thought.
Joshua went to the country. He went to see the king. He told the king about onions.
The king was very interested. He asked Joshua to make some food with onions.
That evening, the king and his friends ate the food. They liked it very much.
“This is very good!” said the king.
The king gave Joshua a lot of diamonds for the onions.
Joshua was very happy. He went home with a big wagon full of diamonds.
Joshua shared some of his money with Eli. But Eli was jealous.
“Does that country have garlic?” Eli asked.
“No, they don’t,” said Joshua.
Eli had an idea.
“If onions can make Joshua rich, garlic can make me rich too!” he thought.
So Eli went to the king. He gave the king some garlic.
The king and his friends ate food with garlic. They liked it very much.
“This is wonderful!” said the king.
The king wanted to give Eli something valuable for the garlic.
He gave Eli something from his kingdom.
It was onions!
Eli looked at the onions and was very surprised.
He wanted to be rich, but he went home with onions instead!
— THE END –
Vocabulary
- Brother /ˈbrʌðər/ — a boy or man who has the same parents as you.
Example: Joshua and Eli were brothers. - Farm /fɑːrm/ — a place where people grow food and keep animals.
Example: They lived on a small farm. - Poor /pʊr/ — having very little money.
Example: The two brothers were very poor. - Lazy /ˈleɪzi/ — not wanting to work or do things.
Example: Eli was lazy. - Onion /ˈʌnjən/ — a round vegetable with a strong smell and taste.
Example: The country did not have onions.
- Garlic /ˈɡɑːrlɪk/ — a small white vegetable with a strong taste and smell.
Example: Eli took garlic to the king. - King /kɪŋ/ — the man who rules a country.
Example: Joshua went to see the king. - Rich /rɪtʃ/ — having a lot of money.
Example: Joshua became rich. - Jealous /ˈdʒeləs/ — unhappy because someone has something you want.
Example: Eli was jealous of Joshua. - Diamonds /ˈdaɪəməndz/ — very valuable and hard stones.
Example: The king gave Joshua many diamonds.
Comprehension Questions
- What were the names of the two brothers?
- Where did Joshua and Eli live?
- Were the brothers rich or poor?
- Who worked hard every day?
- What vegetable did Joshua take to the king?
- Did the king like the onions?
- What did the king give Joshua?
- Why was Eli jealous of Joshua?
- What vegetable did Eli take to the king?
- What did the king give Eli?
Grammar Exercises
- Joshua and Eli __ brothers.
A) was
B) were
C) is - They __ on a small farm.
A) lived
B) live
C) living - Joshua __ hard every day.
A) work
B) worked
C) working - Eli __ lazy.
A) was
B) were
C) is - Joshua __ about a far-away country.
A) hear
B) heard
C) hearing
- Joshua __ onions to the king.
A) took
B) take
C) taking - The king __ the onions very much.
A) like
B) liked
C) liking - Joshua __ rich after selling the onions.
A) become
B) became
C) becoming - Eli __ jealous of Joshua.
A) was
B) were
C) are - The king __ Eli onions.
A) gave
B) give
C) giving
Answer Key:
1) B, 2) A, 3) B, 4) A, 5) B, 6) A, 7) B, 8) B, 9) A, 10) A
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