Changes to Washington, D.C.

May 9, 2026, 16:31
USPolitics

Introduction

President Donald Trump wants to change how Washington, D.C. looks. He wants the city to look beautiful for the 250th birthday of the United States.

Main Body

The government is fixing the Lincoln Memorial pool. They paid a company $6.9 million to paint it blue. This company worked for the president before. Some experts say the paint does not fix the real problems with the water. The president wants to build a big ballroom at the White House. He also wants to build a large arch and fix the Kennedy Center. He wants to put his name on two big buildings. Some people are angry about this. Some people want to stop these projects in court. They do not want a golf course in the park because the land is dirty. Other people say the president spends too much money while people are poor.

Conclusion

The president still wants to change the city. Many people and lawyers disagree with him.

Learning

🧱 The 'Want' Pattern

In this text, we see a very useful way to talk about desires and plans.

The Rule: Subject + want(s) + to + action

Examples from the text:

  • He wants to change... β†’\rightarrow (He has a plan for change).
  • He wants to build... β†’\rightarrow (He has a plan for a building).
  • He wants to put... β†’\rightarrow (He has a plan for his name).

πŸ’‘ Quick Tip for A2: If you talk about one person (He, She, The President), add an -s to the word "want".

  • I want β†’\rightarrow Correct
  • They want β†’\rightarrow Correct
  • He wants β†’\rightarrow Correct

Vocabulary Learning

president
the leader of a country
Example:The president signed a new law.
government
the group that runs a country
Example:The government announced a new policy.
memorial
a building or statue to remember something
Example:We visited the memorial to honor soldiers.
pool
a small body of water
Example:Children played in the pool during summer.
million
one thousand thousand
Example:The company earned six million dollars.
paint
to cover with color
Example:She will paint the wall blue.
blue
the color of the sky
Example:The sky is blue on a sunny day.
company
a business that sells goods or services
Example:The company offers many products.
experts
people who know a lot about something
Example:Experts advise people on health.
water
a clear liquid that people drink
Example:Always drink clean water.
ballroom
a large room for dancing
Example:The party was held in a grand ballroom.
arch
a curved structure
Example:The arch over the road is old.
center
the middle part of something
Example:The center of the city is busy.
angry
feeling upset
Example:He was angry when the game was cancelled.
court
a place where judges decide cases
Example:The case will be heard in court.