My First Experiment (H1)
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EN: The Simple Past Tense (using the past form of the verb, 'did') is used to describe an action that was completed at a specific time in the past, often accompanied by past time expressions like 'last month'.
She visited her grandparents last week.
EN: Ordinal numbers (like 'first') are used as adjectives before nouns to show the order or position of something in a sequence. They are typically preceded by possessive adjectives (like 'my') or the definite article 'the'.
This is my second time visiting Taipei.
EN: The simple past tense question structure with 'did'. In English, to ask a question in the past tense, we use the auxiliary verb 'did' followed by the subject and the base form of the main verb (in this case, 'try').
What did you want to buy?
EN: The verb pattern 'try to + infinitive'. This structure is used to express making an effort to do something. 'Try' is followed by a to-infinitive ('to discover') to show the goal of the attempt.
She tried to open the window.
EN: In English-speaking scientific and educational contexts, active questioning is highly encouraged. Asking 'What did you try to discover?' shows active listening and interest in the process of inquiry rather than just the final result.
EN: The auxiliary verb phrase 'used to' is used to describe habits, states, or facts in the past that are no longer true in the present. It is followed by the base form of the verb.
I used to live in London, but now I live in Taipei.
EN: When the main verb of a sentence is in the past tense (e.g., 'thought'), the verbs in the subordinate noun clause (that-clause) usually shift to a past tense as well (e.g., 'grew' instead of 'grow') to maintain backshift of tenses.
She thought that he was a teacher.
EN: The phrase 'change one's mind' is an idiomatic expression meaning to alter one's opinion, decision, or plan. The possessive adjective (my, your, his, her, etc.) must agree with the subject.
I was going to go out, but I changed my mind because of the rain.
EN: In this sentence, 'what' acts as the subject of the question. When a question word (who, what, which) is the subject, we do not use auxiliary verbs like 'do', 'does', or 'did'. The verb directly follows the subject in its tense-appropriate form.
What made you laugh so hard?
EN: Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle) is used to describe an action that was completed before another action or a specific time in the past.
She had already left when I arrived at the station.
EN: Parallel Structure with Prepositions. The preposition 'in' is used to introduce two contrasting environments ('light' and 'darkness') connected by 'and', maintaining grammatical balance.
We walked in rain and in wind.
EN: The phrase 'What happened to...?' is a standard pattern used to ask about the fate, status, or condition of someone or something. 'Happen' is an intransitive verb and is followed by the preposition 'to'.
What happened to your bicycle?
EN: The pronoun 'ones' is a substitute pronoun used to avoid repeating a plural noun that has already been mentioned (in this context, 'seeds' or 'plants').
I prefer the blue shoes to the red ones.
EN: The verb 'grow' is used here as a linking verb (copula), meaning 'to become' or 'to develop into a certain state'. It is followed directly by an adjective (weak/strong) rather than an adverb.
The weather grew cold as night fell.
EN: The conjunction 'while' is used to connect two clauses that show a direct contrast or comparison between two things.
Some people prefer tea, while others prefer coffee.
EN: Using coordinate adjectives (clear and interesting) to modify a noun. When two adjectives of similar importance describe a noun, they are often joined by 'and' to provide a balanced description.
It was a long and difficult journey.
EN: The demonstrative pronoun 'that' is used to refer to a singular thing, event, or statement that is distant in time or space, or has just been mentioned in the conversation.
That is a very good point.
EN: The clause 'why sunlight matters so much' acts as a noun clause (or indirect question) serving as the direct object of the verb 'understand'. In English, noun clauses introduced by question words (like 'why', 'what', 'how') follow statement word order (subject + verb) rather than question word order.
I don't know why she left so early.
EN: The verb 'matter' is an intransitive verb meaning 'to be important' or 'to have significance'. It is often used with modifiers like 'so much' or 'a lot' to emphasize the degree of importance.
Your opinion matters to us.
EN: The Present Continuous Tense (be + V-ing) is used here to describe a gradual, ongoing process or trend that is happening around the present time, rather than just an action happening at this exact moment.
Technology is changing our lives more rapidly than ever.
EN: The pronoun 'something' is modified by the adjective 'new'. In English, indefinite pronouns ending in -thing, -one, or -body (like something, anyone, nobody) must have their modifying adjectives placed AFTER them (post-modification).
I want to try something different today.
EN: The Present Perfect Tense (have + past participle) is used here to describe an action that happened in the past but has a strong relevance or result in the present (having reliable data now).
I have finished my homework, so I can play now.
EN: The infinitive phrase 'to be sure of' acts as an adverbial of purpose, explaining 'why' the tests were repeated. 'Be sure of' means to have no doubt about something.
She checked the map to be sure of the directions.
EN: In scientific contexts, 'data' is historically a plural noun (singular 'datum'). However, in modern everyday English and even in many general science contexts, it is commonly treated as an uncountable singular noun (e.g., 'my data is reliable').
EN: Adverbs of frequency (like 'always') are used to describe how often an action occurs. In a sentence, they are typically placed before the main verb (except for the verb 'to be', where they come after).
She always drinks coffee in the morning.
EN: The adverb 'twice' is used as an adverb of frequency/number meaning 'two times'. It is usually placed at the end of the clause or sentence to modify the verb phrase.
He read the email twice to make sure he understood.
EN: The phrase 'check their work twice' reflects a core value in scientific communities and Western education: reproducibility and double-checking. It is reminiscent of the common proverb 'Measure twice, cut once,' emphasizing the importance of accuracy and preventing mistakes.
EN: The Simple Past Tense (e.g., 'started') is used to describe actions that were completed at a specific time in the past. It is often accompanied by past time expressions like 'last month', 'yesterday', or 'in 2020'.
Last year, we visited a science museum in London.
EN: Adverbial phrases of time (like 'Last month') can be placed at the very beginning of a sentence for emphasis, followed by a comma, or at the end of the sentence without a comma.
Yesterday, I finished my homework early.
EN: The auxiliary verb 'used to' is used to describe past habits, states, or repeated actions that are no longer true in the present. It is followed by the base form of the verb.
I used to play tennis every Sunday, but now I prefer swimming.
EN: The verb 'find' can be used in the pattern 'find + object + object complement (adjective)' to express an opinion or perception about something after experiencing it.
She found the movie very touching.
EN: The word 'however' is a conjunctive adverb used to show contrast. It is usually placed at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma, to connect the sentence to the previous context.
I wanted to go for a walk. However, it started to rain.
EN: The phrase 'how I felt' is a noun clause acting as the direct object of the verb 'changed'. It uses statement word order (subject + verb) rather than question word order.
She explained how she solved the puzzle.
EN: An indirect question is a question embedded inside another statement or question (e.g., 'I wanted to know...'). Unlike direct questions, indirect questions use normal declarative word order (subject + verb) instead of inversion, and do not use auxiliary verbs like 'do', 'does', or 'did'.
She asked me where I lived.
EN: Comparative adverbs are used to compare two actions. For short adverbs like 'fast', we add '-er' to form the comparative ('faster'). It is often followed by 'than' to introduce the comparison target.
He runs faster than his brother.
EN: The Past Perfect tense ('had' + past participle) is used to describe an action that was completed before another action or a specific time in the past.
She had already left when I arrived at the office.
EN: The quantifier 'two pots of' is used to measure or count seeds or plants contained in pots. 'Of' connects the container/measure to the noun.
He bought three pots of flowers for his balcony.
EN: The conjunction 'while' is used to connect two clauses that show contrast or simultaneous actions. In this sentence, it highlights the contrast between the locations of the two pots.
While some people prefer tea, others like coffee.
EN: The pronoun 'the other' is used to refer to the second of two things or people that have been mentioned. It is often paired with 'one' (one... the other...).
I have two pens; one is red and the other is blue.
EN: The Simple Past Tense ('observed', 'recorded', 'saw') is used to describe completed actions that happened at a specific time in the past. In this sentence, it describes the daily routine of a completed science experiment.
Yesterday, I walked to the park and met my friend.
EN: The noun clause 'what I saw' acts as the direct object of the verbs 'observed' and 'recorded'. 'What' functions as a relative pronoun meaning 'the things that'.
She always remembers what you said.
EN: The use of the past simple tense ('surprised') is used here to describe a completed action or state in the past. Adverbs of manner or degree like 'truly' are often placed directly before the main verb to add emphasis.
The sudden rain truly ruined our picnic plans.
EN: Prepositional phrases of time, such as 'After two weeks', can be placed at the beginning of a sentence to set the timeframe. When placed at the start, they are typically followed by a comma.
After three months, the project was finally completed.
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. In this context, it emphasizes that the growth occurred prior to the observation or the end of the two-week experiment.
By the time the teacher arrived, the students had finished the experiment.
EN: To express how many times larger, taller, or longer something is compared to another, use the pattern: 'multiple word (twice, three times, etc.) + as + adjective + as'. When the second part of the comparison is clear from the context, the second 'as' and the noun can be omitted.
This new smartphone is twice as expensive.
EN: The Present Perfect Tense ('have learned') is used here to describe an action that happened in the past but has a strong connection or relevance to the present moment, representing an acquired knowledge or experience.
I have learned how to solve this difficult math problem.
EN: The noun clause starting with 'that' ('that careful observation reveals...') acts as the direct object of the verb 'learned'. It contains a complete sentence structure (subject + verb + object) to express what was learned.
She believes that honesty is the best policy.
EN: The adjective pattern 'be curious about something' is used to express a strong desire to know or learn about something. 'Curious' is the adjective, and 'about' is the preposition that introduces the object of interest.
Children are often curious about how nature works.
EN: The phrase 'around me' acts as an adjectival modifier (prepositional phrase) placed after the pronoun 'everything' to specify the location or scope of the things being referred to.
I like to observe the people around me.
EN: Parenthetical Insertion (or Parenthetical Expression): The phrase 'I realize' is inserted into the main sentence to express the speaker's personal thought or opinion. It is set off by commas and can be removed without changing the core grammatical structure of the sentence.
Learning a language, I believe, is a lifelong journey.
EN: Gerund as Object of Preposition: In the phrase 'the art of asking', 'asking' is a gerund (verb + -ing acting as a noun) serving as the object of the preposition 'of'.
She mastered the skill of writing essays.
EN: Wh-questions in the simple past tense use the auxiliary verb 'did' followed by the subject and the base form of the main verb (infinitive without 'to'). Here, 'What did you discover...' asks about a completed action in the past.
What did you buy at the store yesterday?
EN: The preposition 'in' is used here to indicate the domain, area, or context of an activity (the project) within which the discovery was made.
She made several mistakes in her presentation.
EN: In English-speaking classrooms, science fairs and individual projects are a standard part of the curriculum from a young age. Students are encouraged to ask questions, run experiments, and present their findings, fostering critical thinking and public speaking skills.
EN: The 'that' clause functions as a noun clause (or object clause) serving as the direct object of the verb 'found'. It contains a complete sentence structure (subject + verb + object) and the word 'that' can often be omitted in informal speech.
She believes that the project will succeed.
EN: The comparative adverb 'faster' is used to compare the speed of an action. In this sentence, it modifies the verb 'dissolves' to show that warm water does it at a higher speed than cold water.
He runs faster than his brother.
EN: The auxiliary verb phrase 'used to' is used to describe habits, states, or repeated actions in the past that no longer happen or are no longer true in the present. It is always followed by the base form of the verb.
I used to live in London, but now I live in New York.
EN: The preposition 'without' means 'not having' or 'not doing' something. When followed by an action, we must use the gerund form (verb-ing) because prepositions can only be followed by nouns or noun equivalents.
She left the room without saying a word.
EN: The causative verb 'make' is used to express that someone or something causes an action to happen. It is followed by an object and the bare infinitive (verb without 'to'). In the question 'What made you start...', 'what' is the subject, 'made' is the causative verb, 'you' is the object, and 'start' is the bare infinitive.
What made you choose this university?
EN: The verb 'start' can be followed by either a gerund (verb-ing) or an infinitive (to + verb) with little to no change in meaning. In this sentence, 'start doing' uses the gerund form to describe beginning an ongoing activity.
She started learning French last year.
EN: In English-speaking academic environments, there is a strong cultural emphasis on hands-on learning and the scientific method. Asking 'What made you start doing real experiments?' reflects a curiosity about a student's personal transition from passive learning (like memorizing textbooks) to active, inquiry-based learning.
EN: The Past Perfect Tense ('had' + past participle) is used to show that an action was completed before another action in the past. In this sentence, 'had failed' happened before 'decided'.
She had finished her homework before she went to bed.
EN: The split infinitive occurs when an adverb (like 'truly') is placed between 'to' and the verb (like 'understand') in an infinitive construction. It is commonly used to add emphasis to the verb.
He promised to carefully read the instructions.
EN: The adverb 'carefully' is used to modify the verb 'observe'. In English, adverbs of manner (answering 'how') often follow the verb they modify or the direct object if there is one.
She listens carefully to the instructions.
EN: The word 'before' acts as a subordinating conjunction introducing an adverbial clause of time ('before I draw conclusions'). It indicates that the action in the main clause happens first.
Please wash your hands before you eat dinner.
EN: In scientific and academic contexts, 'drawing conclusions' is a standard collocation that refers to the process of arriving at a judgment or decision based on evidence. This sentence reflects the core scientific value of empirical observation preceding theory.
EN: The Present Perfect Tense (have/has + past participle) is used here to describe an action that was completed in the past but has strong relevance or results in the present moment.
I have lost my keys, so I cannot open the door now.
EN: The preposition 'in' is used to indicate that something is written or recorded inside the pages of a physical book, notebook, or document.
She wrote her phone number in her diary.
EN: In scientific contexts, keeping a physical 'lab notebook' or 'field notebook' is a traditional and highly valued practice. It serves as a permanent, chronological record of an investigator's ideas, procedures, and data.
EN: Gerund as Subject: A gerund (verb + -ing) can function as a noun and serve as the subject of a sentence. It is treated as a singular noun.
Learning a new language opens up many opportunities.
EN: Causative Verb 'Make': The verb 'make' can be used as a causative verb meaning 'to cause someone or something to do something'. It is followed by an object and a bare infinitive (verb without 'to').
The sad movie made me cry.
EN: In scientific contexts, 'data' is historically a plural noun (singular 'datum'), but in modern everyday English and general science communication, it is commonly treated as an uncountable singular noun, as seen in 'my data' or 'the data is'.
EN: The adverb 'best' is the superlative form of 'well'. It is used here to modify the verb 'learn', indicating the highest degree of effectiveness.
She works best under pressure.
EN: The conjunction 'when' introduces an adverbial clause of time ('when we stay curious'), which indicates the condition or time under which the main action ('We learn best') occurs. 'Stay' is a linking verb followed by the adjective 'curious' as a subject complement.
Children learn quickly when they are interested.
EN: This sentence reflects a core value in Western education and scientific inquiry: the belief that active curiosity and questioning are more valuable for learning than passive memorization.
EN: The modal verb 'can' is used here to express possibility, indicating that it is possible for a question to lead to a discovery. It is followed by the base form of the verb 'lead'.
Regular practice can lead to great improvement.
EN: The phrasal verb 'lead to' means to cause something to happen or to result in something. 'To' is a preposition here, so it is followed by a noun phrase ('a new discovery').
This path will lead to the main road.
EN: This sentence reflects a core value in Western scientific education: encouraging curiosity and questioning rather than just memorizing facts. It emphasizes that there are no 'dumb' questions in science.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
To adopt a different opinion or decision.
To make a judgment or decision based on facts or evidence.
A scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact.