Steve Jobs at Stanford: Love, Loss, and Looking at Death
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EN: Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle): Used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. In this sentence, 'had founded' happened before 'fired'.
She had finished her homework before she went out to play.
EN: Subordinating Conjunction 'After': Used to introduce a dependent clause that indicates the sequence of events. It connects the earlier event to the main event.
After the rain stopped, we went for a walk.
EN: The 'garage' is a powerful symbol in American business culture, representing the humble beginnings of iconic tech giants like Apple, Google, and Amazon. It emphasizes the 'American Dream' where innovation can start anywhere.
EN: The Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle) is used to describe an action that was completed before another action or point in time in the past.
She realized she had lost her keys after she reached home.
EN: The conjunction 'because' introduces a subordinate clause of reason, explaining the cause of the situation described in the main clause.
The match was canceled because it rained heavily.
EN: This sentence refers to Steve Jobs being fired from Apple, the company he co-founded. In Western business culture, it is a famous example of how a major setback can lead to future innovation and personal growth.
EN: Passive Voice (be + past participle): Used to emphasize the person or thing that experiences an action rather than the person or thing that performs the action.
The old building was replaced by a modern shopping mall.
EN: Gerunds as Objects of Prepositions: The word 'being' is a gerund (verb + -ing acting as a noun) used after the preposition 'of' to describe a state.
She enjoys the feeling of being independent.
EN: This quote is from Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech. It reflects a Zen-like philosophy (Shoshin or 'Beginner's Mind') where losing everything can be a liberating experience that fosters creativity by removing the fear of maintaining success.
EN: The verb 'allow' is commonly used in the pattern 'allow someone to do something', which means to give permission or make it possible for someone to perform an action.
The scholarship allowed her to study abroad.
EN: The phrase 'one of the + superlative adjective + plural noun' is used to identify a specific item that belongs to a group of extreme examples.
This is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
EN: This sentence refers to Steve Jobs' perspective on his firing from Apple. In American entrepreneurial culture, failure or being fired is often reframed as a 'blessing in disguise' or a chance for a 'fresh start,' emphasizing resilience and the value of a 'beginner's mind.'
EN: The past participle 'called' is used here as a reduced relative clause (which was called), acting as an adjective to modify the noun 'company'.
She lives in a small town called Riverside.
EN: The relative pronoun 'who' introduces a defining relative clause to provide essential information about the noun 'the woman'.
He is the teacher who inspired me to study art.
EN: This sentence refers to a pivotal period in Steve Jobs' life after being ousted from Apple. NeXT was the computer company he founded, which eventually led to his return to Apple when they acquired it. Laurene Powell Jobs became a significant figure in philanthropy and business.
EN: The conjunction 'After' is used to introduce a subordinate clause that indicates the sequence of events. In this sentence, it shows that the creation of the film happened before the purchase of the company.
After the meeting ended, we went out for dinner.
EN: Compound Predicate: A single subject ('Apple') performs two actions ('purchased' and 'brought back') connected by the coordinating conjunction 'and'.
She opened the door and walked inside.
EN: This sentence refers to a pivotal moment in tech history when Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997. Apple's acquisition of NeXT (his 'other company') led to his return, while his success at Pixar had already proven his creative leadership.
EN: The use of 'to + infinitive' (to remind) functions as an adverbial of purpose, explaining 'why' the subject performed the action of looking in the mirror.
She saved money to buy a new car.
EN: The phrase 'in a row' is an idiomatic expression used to describe things happening one after another without interruption.
It rained for three days in a row.
EN: This sentence reflects a famous philosophy of Steve Jobs, emphasizing self-reflection and the courage to make changes when one is no longer satisfied with their daily life. It highlights the importance of personal agency.
EN: Second Conditional: Used to talk about hypothetical or imaginary situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + subject + past simple (were), subject + would + verb'.
If I were a bird, I would fly to you.
EN: Be about to: A fixed expression used to describe an action that will happen very soon in the immediate future.
The movie is about to start, so please sit down.
EN: This quote is from Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech. It reflects a Zen-like focus on mortality as a tool to prioritize what truly matters in life, a philosophy that influenced his leadership at Apple.
EN: The verb 'diagnose' is commonly used with the pattern 'diagnose someone with something' to indicate the identification of a specific medical condition or illness.
The specialist diagnosed her with a rare skin condition.
EN: Reported speech with 'warned that': When reporting a warning, the conjunction 'that' introduces a subordinate clause. Since the main verb 'warned' is in the past tense, the verb in the clause shifts to the past tense ('had') to maintain backshift consistency.
The teacher warned that the exam would be difficult.
EN: In Western medical contexts, doctors are often direct about a prognosis, even when it is terminal. This reflects a cultural emphasis on patient autonomy and the right to know one's medical status to make personal arrangements.
EN: The sentence uses a relative clause starting with 'that' to provide more information about the noun 'cancer'. This is a defining relative clause, which identifies exactly what kind of cancer is being discussed.
He found a solution that could solve the problem quickly.
EN: The passive voice 'could be cured' is used to focus on the person or thing receiving the action (the cancer) rather than the person performing the surgery.
The broken window could be repaired by a professional.
EN: The structure 'describe A as B' is used to define or characterize something in a specific way. 'As' functions as a preposition here.
She described the experience as a turning point in her career.
EN: A relative clause starting with 'that' is used to provide essential information about the preceding noun (the antecedent). In this sentence, 'that requires...' modifies 'a change agent'.
He has a vision that inspires everyone in the team.
EN: This sentence reflects Steve Jobs' philosophical view on mortality, which he famously shared in his 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech. He viewed death not as a tragedy, but as a necessary tool for clearing out the old to make way for the new.
EN: The verb 'waste' is followed by an object (time/money) and then a present participle (V-ing) to describe the activity on which the resource is spent.
Don't waste your weekend worrying about work.
EN: The imperative mood is used to give commands or advice. 'Stay' followed by an adjective means to remain in a certain state or condition.
Stay calm and focused during the exam.
EN: This is one of Steve Jobs' most famous quotes from his 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech. 'Stay hungry' implies never being satisfied and always pushing for more, while 'Stay foolish' encourages taking risks that others might think are unwise.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
One after another without a break; consecutively.
Created or produced using computer graphics software to create moving images.
To maintain a strong desire to achieve more and never be satisfied with current success.
To be willing to take risks and try things that others might think are unrealistic or silly.