Make a Decision (H5)
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EN: The modal verb 'should' is used to express recommendation, advice, or obligation. It is followed by the base form of the verb (bare infinitive) without 'to'.
We should start the meeting now.
EN: The collocation 'make a decision' is a common verb-noun pairing (collocation) in English. While 'decide' is a single verb, native speakers frequently use 'make a decision' to sound more natural or formal.
It is hard to make a decision under pressure.
EN: In English-speaking business and daily environments, using 'should' is a common way to suggest a course of action politely but firmly. It is less demanding than 'must' or 'have to', making it ideal for collaborative decision-making.
EN: The verb 'try' can be followed by an infinitive ('to' + base verb) to express making an effort to do something. This is different from 'try' followed by a gerund (-ing form), which means to experiment with a new method.
He tried to open the window, but it was stuck.
EN: The collocation 'keep a promise' means to do what you said you would do. 'Keep' is the natural verb paired with 'promise' in English.
It is important to keep a promise if you want people to trust you.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, keeping one's word or promise is highly valued as a cornerstone of personal integrity and trust. Phrases like 'keep a promise' or 'give your word' carry significant moral weight.
EN: The semi-modal verb 'need to' is used to express necessity or obligation. It is followed by the base form of the verb (infinitive without 'to').
You need to submit the report by Friday.
EN: The collocation 'take responsibility for' means to accept the blame or duty for something. 'For' is a preposition, so it must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund.
He refused to take responsibility for the mistake.
EN: In Western professional and personal contexts, taking responsibility is highly valued as a sign of maturity, integrity, and leadership. It contrasts with making excuses or blaming others when things go wrong.
EN: The contraction 'Let's' stands for 'let us' and is used to make suggestions or proposals. It is followed by the base form of the verb (bare infinitive) without 'to'.
Let's start the meeting now.
EN: The phrasal verb 'pay attention to' means to listen to, watch, or consider something carefully. The word 'to' here is a preposition, so it must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (-ing form).
You should pay attention to the traffic signs.
EN: In professional and academic environments in English-speaking cultures, 'paying attention to detail' is highly valued and often cited as a key strength in job descriptions and performance reviews.
EN: The idiom 'do one's best' means to make the greatest effort possible. It is followed by a to-infinitive ('to + verb') to express the purpose or goal of the effort.
She did her best to finish the project on time.
EN: The linking verb 'stay' can be followed directly by an adjective (like 'healthy') to mean 'to continue to be in a particular state or condition'.
Please stay calm during the meeting.
EN: In modern English-speaking cultures, 'staying healthy' is a holistic concept that encompasses not only physical exercise and diet, but also mental well-being and work-life balance.
EN: The collocation 'make progress' is used to describe improvement. 'Progress' is an uncountable noun, so we do not use 'a progress' or 'progresses'. Instead, we can modify it with adjectives like 'great', 'steady', or 'significant'.
He is making steady progress in his English studies.
EN: The Simple Past Tense ('made') is used here to describe an action or state that was completed in a specific past time period (in this case, 'this term', which is viewed as a completed or nearly completed period).
They completed the project this week.
EN: Imperative sentences are used to give orders, advice, or instructions. They start with the base form of the verb. For negative imperatives, we use 'Don't' (Do not) followed by the base verb.
Don't make a decision too quickly; take your time.
EN: The semicolon (;) is used to link two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. It helps to connect ideas without using a coordinating conjunction like 'and' or 'but'.
Keep your promise; people will trust you.
EN: The phrase 'keep an open mind' is a very common idiom in English-speaking cultures, emphasizing the value of receptivity, tolerance, and willingness to consider new ideas or opinions without prejudice.
EN: The phrase 'take pride in' is a common idiomatic collocation meaning to feel self-respect or pleasure in something. It is followed by a noun or a gerund (verb-ing).
She takes pride in her beautiful garden.
EN: Possessive determiners (such as 'our', 'my', 'your') are placed before nouns to show ownership or association. In this sentence, 'our' modifies the noun phrase 'hard work'.
We must protect our environment.
EN: In many English-speaking cultures, taking pride in one's hard work and individual effort is highly valued and openly encouraged as a sign of self-respect and dedication.
EN: The past simple tense is used here to describe completed actions in the past. Both 'broke' (past of 'break') and 'paid' (past of 'pay') are irregular verbs that must be memorized.
She broke her promise and paid the price of losing her friend's trust.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'and' is used to connect two independent clauses with the same subject ('He'). When the subject is the same in both clauses, it is commonly omitted in the second clause.
He finished his homework and went to bed.
EN: The phrase 'pay the price' is a common English idiom meaning to experience the bad result of something you have done. It emphasizes the concept of personal responsibility and consequences in Western culture.
EN: The structure 'Let's + base verb' is a contraction of 'let us'. It is used to make suggestions or proposals to do something together. It is always followed by the bare infinitive (the base form of the verb without 'to').
Let's start the meeting now.
EN: The idiom 'make the most of something' means to use a situation, opportunity, or resource in the best possible way to get the maximum benefit from it.
We should make the most of our holiday.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, taking initiative and seizing opportunities is highly valued. The phrase 'make the most of' reflects a proactive mindset, encouraging people to find the positive side or maximum utility in any situation, even challenging ones.
EN: The collocation 'take notes' means to write down information quickly to help you remember it. In English, we use the verb 'take' (not 'make' or 'do') with 'notes' to express this action.
Please take notes during the lecture.
EN: The 'to-infinitive' (to + base verb) is used here as an adverbial of purpose, answering the question 'why' the action is done. It is a shortened form of 'in order to'.
I wake up early to exercise.
EN: In Western academic and professional settings, 'taking notes' is highly encouraged as an active learning strategy. It shows engagement and responsibility for one's own learning, rather than just passively listening.
EN: The modal verb 'must' is used to express strong obligation or necessity. Unlike 'have to', 'must' often expresses the speaker's internal feeling of obligation or a formal rule. It is followed by the base form of the verb (bare infinitive).
We must submit the report by Friday.
EN: The idiom 'keep one's word' means to do what one has promised. The possessive adjective (my, your, our, his, her, their) changes depending on the subject.
He is a man of integrity; he always keeps his word.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, 'keeping one's word' is a core value associated with personal integrity and trust. Breaking a promise can seriously damage personal and professional relationships.
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: Collocation 'make a difference': This common phrase means to have a significant effect on a person or situation. It is often modified by adjectives like 'big' or 'huge'.
Your support made a big difference to our project.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, there is a strong emphasis on 'collocations' (words that naturally go together). Native speakers prioritize natural phrasing over literal translations, which is why learning words in context or pairs (like 'make a difference') is highly encouraged in language learning.
EN: The phrase 'pay attention to' is a common phrasal verb/collocation meaning to focus on or watch/listen to something carefully. It is followed by a noun phrase as its object.
You should pay attention to the traffic signs.
EN: Adverbs of frequency (like 'often', 'always', 'usually') generally position themselves before the main verb (except for the verb 'to be', where they go after). Here, 'often' correctly precedes the main verb 'pay'.
She often visits the local library on weekends.
EN: The concept of 'natural word pairs' refers to collocations (words that naturally go together in English). Learning collocations is a key step for English learners to sound more natural and fluent, as literal translations from one's native language often result in unnatural phrasing.
EN: Collocations (word partners) are combinations of words that frequently occur together. In English, certain verbs are paired with specific nouns; for instance, we use 'make' with 'decision' and 'take' with 'risk'. Using the wrong verb sounds unnatural to native speakers.
She had to make a choice between the two jobs.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to connect two independent clauses that show contrast. In this sentence, it contrasts the use of the verb 'make' in the first clause with 'take' in the second clause.
I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.
EN: This sentence highlights a common challenge for English learners: collocations. In many languages, the same verb might be used for both 'making a decision' and 'taking a risk' (for example, '做' in Chinese). Understanding that English pairs specific verbs with specific nouns is a key step toward sounding like a native speaker.
EN: Collocation (word partnership) is a natural combination of words. In English, specific verbs are paired with specific nouns. We use 'do' with 'homework' (focusing on the activity or task) and 'make' with 'mistake' (focusing on the result or creation of something).
I need to do my chores before I make dinner.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to connect two independent clauses that present contrasting ideas. It is preceded by a comma when connecting two complete sentences.
She wants to go to the party, but she has to study.
EN: In English, the distinction between 'make' and 'do' is one of the most common challenges for language learners. 'Do' is typically associated with repetitive tasks, jobs, or obligations (e.g., do homework, do dishes). 'Make' is associated with creating, producing, or constructing something new that didn't exist before (e.g., make a mistake, make a cake, make a decision).
EN: Adverbial Clause of Time: The conjunction 'when' introduces a dependent clause that establishes the time or condition under which the action in the main clause occurs. In this sentence, 'When we keep an open mind' is the adverbial clause, and 'we learn much faster' is the main clause.
When you practice every day, you improve quickly.
EN: Adverbial Modifier with Comparative: The adverb 'much' is used as an intensifier before the comparative adverb 'faster' to emphasize a significant difference in speed.
She runs much faster than her brother.
EN: The phrase 'keep an open mind' is a highly valued concept in English-speaking cultures, reflecting an emphasis on growth mindset, tolerance, and continuous learning. It is often used in academic, professional, and personal development contexts to encourage receptivity to new ideas.
EN: The use of 'when' as a subordinating conjunction to introduce an adverbial clause of time. In this sentence, 'when I meet a new phrase' indicates the specific time or condition under which the action in the main clause ('I always take notes') occurs.
I usually drink water when I wake up.
EN: The collocation 'take notes', which means to write down information quickly to help you remember it. In English, we use the verb 'take' with 'notes' rather than 'do' or 'make'.
Please take notes during the lecture.
EN: The Present Perfect Tense ('have/has + past participle') is used here to describe an action or state that started in the past and continues to have relevance or effect in the present. In this sentence, 'have made' shows that the progress started in the past and is still true or relevant now.
She has lived in New York for three years.
EN: The collocation 'make progress' is a standard verb-noun combination in English. We use the verb 'make' (not 'do' or 'get') with the noun 'progress' to express improvement or advancement.
We are making progress on the new project.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, acknowledging personal growth and 'steady progress' is highly valued. It reflects a growth mindset, where consistent effort over time is celebrated more than instant perfection.
EN: The dummy subject 'It' is used to introduce a sentence where the real subject is an infinitive phrase (to + verb). This structure is common in English to avoid having a long subject at the beginning of the sentence.
It is necessary to wear a helmet when riding a bike.
EN: The collocation 'take pride in' means to feel self-respect or pleasure in something. It is followed by a noun or a gerund.
They take pride in their traditional cooking methods.
EN: In modern self-improvement and workplace culture, 'small wins' is a popular concept. It encourages people to celebrate minor achievements to maintain motivation and build momentum, rather than only focusing on massive, long-term goals.
EN: The use of the modal verb 'should' combined with the frequency adverb 'never' to express a strong recommendation or moral obligation. 'Never' is placed between the modal verb 'should' and the main verb 'lose'.
You should never give up on your dreams.
EN: 'Even when' is a subordinating conjunction phrase used to introduce a concession clause. It emphasizes that the main clause remains true even under difficult or unexpected conditions.
She always smiles, even when she is tired.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, resilience and maintaining a positive outlook ('not losing hope') during difficult times are highly valued traits. The phrase 'even when it feels hard' acknowledges the reality of struggle while encouraging perseverance, reflecting a common cultural theme of self-reliance and optimism.
EN: The idiom 'make the most of' means to use or enjoy something as much as possible, or to get the maximum advantage from a given situation.
We should make the most of the sunny weather and go for a walk.
EN: The infinitive phrase 'to practice' acts as an adjective (adjectival infinitive) modifying the noun 'chance', indicating the purpose or opportunity associated with the noun.
He finally got a chance to speak in front of the audience.
EN: In English-speaking educational cultures, there is a strong emphasis on active learning and autonomy. The phrase 'make the most of every chance' reflects the cultural value of taking personal initiative and seizing opportunities for self-improvement.
EN: The collocation 'take responsibility for' means to accept duty or blame for something. It is a common verb-noun-preposition combination where 'responsibility' acts as the direct object of 'take', followed by the preposition 'for' to introduce the cause or area of duty.
We must take responsibility for our decisions.
EN: The possessive determiner 'their' combined with the intensifying adjective 'own' emphasizes ownership or individual connection, meaning 'belonging to themselves and no one else'.
They prefer to cook their own meals.
EN: In Western educational and professional contexts, 'taking responsibility for one's own growth' is highly valued. It reflects the concept of personal accountability and a 'growth mindset', where individuals are expected to proactively seek self-improvement rather than relying solely on external guidance.
EN: Gerund as Subject: A gerund (verb + -ing) can function as a noun and act as the subject of a sentence. It is treated as a singular noun, so the verb that follows must agree with it in the singular form.
Learning a new language opens up many career opportunities.
EN: Phrasal Verb 'pay off': This intransitive phrasal verb means to yield good results or succeed after effort has been made.
All those hours of practice finally paid off when she won the competition.
EN: The phrase 'paying attention to detail' is highly valued in professional and academic settings in English-speaking cultures. It is often listed as a key desirable skill on resumes and job descriptions, reflecting a cultural emphasis on precision, thoroughness, and quality of work.
EN: Collocation (word partnership): In English, certain words naturally go together. We 'make a decision' (decide), but we do not 'take a decision' in standard American English (though 'take a decision' is sometimes heard in British English). Learning these natural pairings is essential for sounding natural.
I need to make a decision about my career path soon.
EN: Alternative Questions with 'or': This sentence structure presents two or more choices using the conjunction 'or'. It is used to ask the listener to choose between the options provided.
Would you like to have tea or coffee?
EN: This sentence highlights a common point of confusion for English learners: collocations. While 'make a decision' is standard in American English, 'take a decision' is widely accepted and commonly used in British English. Understanding these regional differences helps in global communication.
EN: Collocation (搭配詞) refers to words that naturally go together. In English, we use specific verbs with specific nouns. For example, we 'make a decision' (not 'do a decision') and 'take a chance' (not 'make a chance').
She had to make a difficult decision, but she decided to take a chance.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'and' (對等連接詞) is used to connect two independent clauses of equal grammatical rank. Here, it connects two complete thoughts: 'We make a decision' and '(we) take a chance'.
I will call you tomorrow, and we can discuss the details.
EN: In English, collocations are deeply rooted in usage rather than strict logic. For instance, there is no logical reason why we 'make' a decision instead of 'do' a decision; it is simply the natural convention established by native speakers over time. Learning these as single units helps you sound more natural.
EN: The idiom 'do one's best' means to make the greatest effort possible. The possessive adjective (my, your, his, her, etc.) must agree with the subject of the sentence.
She always does her best to help others.
EN: Adverbs of frequency (like 'always', 'usually', 'often') typically occupy the mid-position in a sentence: before the main verb, but after the auxiliary verb or the verb 'be'.
They always arrive on time for meetings.
EN: In professional and academic settings in English-speaking cultures, demonstrating a strong work ethic and taking personal responsibility for tasks (often referred to as 'ownership') is highly valued. Saying 'I do my best' shows commitment and reliability.
EN: The contraction 'Let's' (let us) is used to make suggestions or encourage cooperative action. It is followed by the base form of the verb (bare infinitive).
Let's start the meeting now.
EN: The collocation 'pay attention' means to listen, watch, or think about something carefully. It is often followed by the preposition 'to' when specifying the object of attention, or used with temporal prepositions like 'during' to indicate when the attention should be paid.
You should pay attention to the traffic signs.
EN: The phrase 'take pride in' is a common phrasal verb collocation meaning to feel self-respect or pleasure in something. It is followed by a noun or a gerund (verb-ing). In the third person singular present tense, 'take' becomes 'takes'.
He takes pride in his cooking skills.
EN: Possessive adjectives (such as 'her', 'his', 'my', 'their') are used before nouns to show ownership or association. Here, 'her' refers to the subject 'She' and modifies the noun phrase 'neat work'.
They showed us their new project.
EN: In Western culture, taking pride in one's work is highly valued as a sign of professionalism, personal integrity, and strong work ethic. It implies that the person pays attention to details and cares about the quality of their output, rather than just doing the bare minimum.
EN: The structure 'Imperative Clause + and + Simple Future Clause' is a common conditional pattern in English. It functions similarly to an 'If' clause, meaning 'If you do X, then Y will happen.'
Study hard, and you will pass the exam.
EN: The collocation 'keep a promise' (or 'keep your promise') means to do what you said you would do. Its opposite is 'break a promise'.
It is important to keep your promise if you want people to trust you.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, personal integrity and 'keeping one's word' are highly valued social assets. Trust is considered difficult to build but very easy to lose, making this advice a core social principle.
EN: The collocation 'make a mistake' uses the verb 'make' (not 'do' or 'take') to describe committing an error. In the past tense, 'make' becomes 'made'.
It is okay to make a mistake as long as you try to fix it.
EN: The phrasal verb 'learn from [something]' means to gain knowledge or experience from a past event, especially a mistake or failure. 'It' is a pronoun referring back to 'a mistake'.
We can learn from our failures and become stronger.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, making mistakes is often viewed positively as an essential part of the learning process. Phrases like 'learn from one's mistakes' reflect a growth mindset that values resilience and self-improvement.
EN: The modal verb 'must' is used to express strong obligation or necessity. It is followed by the base form of the verb (in this case, 'make').
We must submit the report by Friday.
EN: The idiom 'make the most of (something)' means to use a situation or resource in the best possible way to get the maximum benefit from it.
You should make the most of your holiday.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, time is often viewed as a valuable, finite resource (as reflected in the idiom 'time is money'). Phrases like 'make the most of our time' emphasize efficiency, productivity, and active engagement in both professional and personal life.
EN: The structure 'Imperative Sentence + and + Subject + Will + Verb' is used to express a conditional relationship, meaning 'If you do this, then that will happen.' It is a more concise and impactful way of saying 'If you..., you will...'.
Work hard, and you will succeed.
EN: The phrase 'take responsibility' is a common collocation meaning to accept the duty to deal with something or to take the blame for something.
We must take responsibility for our own actions.
EN: In Western culture, especially in professional and personal development contexts, 'taking responsibility' (or personal accountability) is highly valued as a key trait of leadership and maturity. It is seen as a proactive choice rather than a burden.
EN: The verb 'keep' can be used in the pattern 'keep + object + adjective' to describe causing someone or something to remain in a particular state.
Regular exercise keeps your body strong.
EN: The word 'minds' is the plural form of 'mind', used here because 'our' refers to multiple people, each having their own mind (distributive plural).
We must open our minds to new ideas.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
To choose a course of action after careful consideration.
To accept duty or blame for a situation or action.
To be willing to consider new ideas or opinions without prejudging.
To use a situation or opportunity to the best possible advantage.
To feel satisfaction and pleasure in one's work, achievements, or connections.