Helping a Whale Move to the North Sea
Introduction
A young humpback whale is called Timmy. People are moving him in a big boat with water. He is going from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea.
Main Body
People saw Timmy near Germany in March. He was sick and tired. He swam into shallow water many times. He could not swim back to the deep sea. Two rich people paid for a big boat to help him. Some scientists said this was a bad idea. They thought Timmy was too sick. They feared he might die during the trip. On April 28, workers put Timmy in the boat. Doctors watched him. The boat moved past islands and cities. Now the boat is going to the North Sea or the Atlantic Ocean.
Conclusion
Timmy is not in German waters now. He is on his way to the North Sea. We do not know if he will live for a long time.
Learning
🐋 The 'Was' vs 'Is' Switch
In this story, we see two ways to talk about Timmy. One is for now and one is for before.
The Past (Before) We use was to describe how Timmy felt in March:
- He was sick.
- He was tired.
The Present (Now) We use is to describe where he is now:
- He is on his way.
- The boat is going to the North Sea.
Quick Guide: Which one do I use?
| Time | Word | Example from text |
|---|---|---|
| Yesterday/Last Month | Was | Timmy was too sick. |
| Today/Right Now | Is | Timmy is not in German waters. |
Key Tip: Use was for a finished time → March. Use is for a continuing action → Now.