Florence Nightingale: A Life of Caring - Day 2
Listen to Course
0:00
0:00
EN: The verb 'was' is the past tense of 'is'. It is used to describe a person's character or state in the past.
He was a kind teacher.
EN: Florence Nightingale is known as the founder of modern nursing. Her birthday, May 12, is celebrated as International Nurses Day.
EN: The verb 'help' can be followed by another verb in its base form (without 'to') or with 'to'. Both 'helped change' and 'helped to change' are correct.
He helped clean the kitchen.
EN: In the 19th century, hospitals were often dangerous and unsanitary. Florence Nightingale's focus on cleanliness and organization revolutionized modern medicine.
EN: Use 'be born' in the past tense (was/were born) to talk about someone's birth. Use 'in' before a city, country, or year.
He was born in Germany in 1995.
EN: In the 19th century, it was common for wealthy English families to travel or live in Italy. Although Florence Nightingale was born in Italy, she is considered a British national hero because of her family background and her work in the UK.
EN: The phrase 'want to + verb' is used to express a desire or intention to do an action.
I want to learn English.
EN: In the 19th century, it was very unusual for women from wealthy families like Florence Nightingale's to work as nurses, as the job was considered low-status and dirty.
EN: Use 'didn't' + 'base verb' to talk about actions that did not happen in the past.
He didn't want to go to the party.
EN: In the 19th century, nursing was considered a low-status job for poor people. Wealthy families like Florence Nightingale's expected their daughters to marry well, not to work in dirty hospitals.
EN: Use 'didn't' (did not) followed by the base form of a verb to talk about things that were not true or did not happen in the past.
He didn't like the food.
EN: In the 19th century, nursing was considered a low-status job for poor women. Wealthy families expected their daughters to marry and manage a home, not to work in dirty hospitals.
EN: The past simple tense is used to describe actions that happened and finished in the past. For regular verbs like 'follow', we add '-ed' to the end.
He followed the map to find the house.
EN: In the 19th century, women from wealthy families were expected to marry and manage a household, not to work. Florence Nightingale's decision to become a nurse was a significant act of rebellion against social class expectations.
EN: Use 'to + verb' (infinitive) to show the purpose or goal of an action.
He went to the store to buy milk.
EN: In the 19th century, Germany was home to the Kaiserswerth Deaconess Institute, one of the few places where women could receive formal training in nursing, which was why Florence Nightingale went there to study.
EN: Use 'When' to join two events that happened at the same time in the past.
When the bell rang, the students left the room.
EN: The Crimean War (1853–1856) was a major conflict where nursing conditions were famously poor until Florence Nightingale arrived to improve them.
EN: Use 'were' to describe a state or condition of plural subjects in the past.
The rooms were very cold.
EN: In the mid-19th century, hospitals during wartime often lacked basic sanitation, which is why Nightingale's focus on cleanliness was revolutionary.
EN: Use 'to + verb' (infinitive) to show the purpose or reason why someone does something.
I went to the store to buy milk.
EN: In the mid-19th century, it was very unusual for a woman of Florence Nightingale's high social standing to work in hospitals, which were then considered dirty and dangerous places. Her decision to lead a team of nurses to Crimea was a revolutionary step for women's roles in society.
EN: When listing three or more actions, we use commas between the items and the word 'and' before the last item.
He ate breakfast, brushed his teeth, and went to school.
EN: In the 1850s, hospital hygiene was very poor. Florence Nightingale's focus on basic cleanliness and fresh air was revolutionary and saved many lives, forming the basis of modern nursing.
EN: The phrase 'the number of' is followed by a plural noun (men) but takes a singular verb (went) because the subject is the 'number' itself.
The number of students in the class is twenty.
EN: This sentence highlights the immediate impact of Florence Nightingale's sanitary reforms. Her focus on hygiene significantly reduced mortality rates, which was a revolutionary concept in 19th-century medicine.
EN: The '-ing' form (checking) is used here to show an action happening at the same time as the main verb (worked).
He sat on the sofa, reading a book.
EN: The image of Florence Nightingale with a lamp became a symbol of nursing. It represents her dedication to patients even during the dark hours of the night.
EN: The verb 'call' can be used with two objects: the person being called and the name or title given to them (Call + Someone + Name).
They call him the King of Pop.
EN: The nickname 'Lady with the Lamp' comes from how Florence Nightingale would check on wounded soldiers at night. It became a symbol of her dedication and the beginning of modern nursing.
EN: Use 'to + verb' (infinitive) to show the purpose or reason why someone does something.
He went to the library to study.
EN: Florence Nightingale founded the first scientifically based nursing school, the Nightingale Training School for Nurses, at St Thomas' Hospital in London in 1860. This marked the beginning of professional nursing education.
EN: Using '-ing' (Gerunds) after a preposition: When a verb follows a preposition like 'about', we add '-ing' to the verb to turn it into a noun.
He is interested in learning English.
EN: Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of modern nursing. Her emphasis on hygiene (like washing hands) was revolutionary in the 19th century and saved countless lives.
EN: The phrase 'lived to be' is used to state the age a person reached before they died.
My grandfather lived to be 95.
EN: In the 19th century, living to be 90 years old was very rare due to limited medical knowledge, making Nightingale's long life as a health pioneer quite remarkable.
EN: The word 'wrote' is the past tense of 'write'. We use the past tense to talk about actions that happened and finished in the past.
He wrote a long email yesterday.
EN: Florence Nightingale's writings were revolutionary because they used data and clear instructions to improve medical standards, which was uncommon for women in the 19th century.
EN: The word 'still' is used to say that a situation continues to exist and has not changed. It usually goes before the main verb.
I still live in the same house.
EN: In this context, 'work' refers to Florence Nightingale's lifelong achievements and the standards she set for nursing, rather than just a daily job. Her birthday, May 12th, is celebrated globally as International Nurses Day.
EN: The verb 'help' can be followed by another verb in its base form (without 'to') to show what action was assisted.
He helped clean the kitchen.
EN: Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of modern nursing. Her emphasis on hygiene (like washing hands and clean air) was revolutionary in the 19th century and remains the standard for hospital care today.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
To pursue or try to achieve what one has always wanted to do.
To examine someone or something to make sure they are safe, correct, or in good condition.
A nickname given to Florence Nightingale because she would visit patients at night carrying a lamp.
To decrease in amount, level, or number.
The services provided by medical professionals to look after a patient.