Dreams and Hobbies (J8A)
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EN: The verb 'enjoy' is a transitive verb that must be followed by a gerund (V-ing) rather than an infinitive (to V) when expressing an activity that one likes doing.
She enjoys reading novels in the library.
EN: In direct speech, when the reporting clause (e.g., 'asks Hana') comes after the quoted speech, the subject and verb can be inverted (e.g., 'asks Hana' or 'Hana asks'). However, if the subject is a pronoun, inversion is not used (e.g., 'she asks').
"I am ready," says the teacher.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, asking about someone's 'free time' or 'hobbies' is a very common and polite icebreaker when getting to know someone. It is considered a safe, friendly, and non-intrusive topic of conversation.
EN: The verb 'love' can be followed by a gerund (verb-ing) to express a general hobby or passion. It emphasizes the experience or activity itself.
I love reading novels before going to bed.
EN: The verb 'want' is followed by an infinitive (to + verb) to express a desire or goal. 'To be' is used here to indicate a future state or profession.
He wants to be a professional soccer player.
EN: The verb 'enjoy' is followed by a gerund (verb-ing) to express pleasure in doing an activity. It cannot be followed by an infinitive (to + verb).
I enjoy reading books before going to bed.
EN: The verb 'hope' is used to express a desire for the future and is typically followed by an infinitive (to + verb) to indicate the action one wishes to perform.
She hopes to travel around the world next year.
EN: The verb 'like' can be followed by a gerund (verb-ing) to express a general preference or enjoyment of an activity. In this sentence, 'playing' acts as the gerund object of 'like'.
She likes playing the piano in her free time.
EN: The verb 'plan' is followed by an infinitive (to + verb) to express an intention or a future plan. 'To join' functions as the direct object of 'plan'.
We plan to travel to Japan next year.
EN: In English narrative writing, especially in stories or news, the reporting verb and subject can be inverted (e.g., 'says Ryan' instead of 'Ryan says') when they follow direct speech. This is a common stylistic device to keep the focus on the dialogue.
EN: The verb 'enjoy' must be followed by a gerund (V-ing) when expressing an activity that one likes doing. It cannot be followed by an infinitive (to + verb).
She enjoys playing the piano after dinner.
EN: The verb 'decide' is followed by an infinitive (to + verb) to express a choice or plan for a future action.
They decided to travel to Japan next summer.
EN: The verb 'enjoy' is a transitive verb that must be followed by a gerund (V-ing) when expressing an action that one likes doing. It cannot be followed by an infinitive (to + V).
I enjoy playing soccer with my friends.
EN: In written English dialogue, when the reporting phrase (e.g., 'says Hana') comes after the direct speech, a comma is used inside the quotation marks to separate the spoken words from the reporting verb.
EN: The infinitive 'to be' is used as the direct object of the verb 'want'. In English, certain verbs like 'want', 'hope', and 'decide' must be followed by an infinitive (to + verb) when expressing a future action or desire.
I want to be a teacher in the future.
EN: In written English, dialogue tags (like 'asks Sarah') can be placed after the quoted speech. When the subject is a proper noun (Sarah), the verb can come before the subject, which is a common stylistic choice in storytelling.
"I am ready," says Leo.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, asking friends about their future dreams and career aspirations (like becoming a writer or an artist) is a common way to show support and build deeper connections. It reflects a culture that values individual goals and self-improvement.
EN: The verb 'practice' is followed by a gerund (verb-ing) when expressing the action that is being practiced. It cannot be followed by an infinitive (to + verb).
She practices playing the piano every afternoon.
EN: In direct speech, when the reporting verb (like 'says') comes after the quoted speech, the subject and verb can be inverted (e.g., 'says Hana' or 'Hana says'). This is common in written stories.
"I am ready," says Leo.
EN: The use of 'all' after a subject pronoun (like 'we' or 'they') is used to emphasize that every member of the group is included. It is placed directly after the subject pronoun and before the main verb.
We all love eating Italian food.
EN: In direct speech, when the reporting verb (like 'says') and its subject (like 'Emma') come after the quoted speech, they can be written in the standard order (Subject + Verb) or inverted (Verb + Subject, e.g., 'says Emma'). Both are grammatically correct, but inversion is common in written stories.
"I am ready," says Leo.
EN: The modal verb 'should' is used to express obligation, duty, or a strong recommendation. It is followed by the base form of the verb (in this case, 'work').
We should protect the environment.
EN: The infinitive phrase 'to reach them' (to + verb) is used here as an adverbial of purpose, explaining 'why' they should work hard. 'Them' is a pronoun referring back to 'dreams'.
She studies hard to pass the exam.
EN: The infinitive 'to learn' is used here as an adverbial of purpose (to-infinitive of purpose), which explains 'why' the action of studying is performed. It can be translated as 'in order to' or 'to'.
She saves money to buy a new laptop.
EN: The phrase 'a lot' is used as an adverb meaning 'very much' or 'frequently' to modify the verb 'study'. It does not require a noun after it when used this way.
He travels a lot for his job.
EN: The structure 'let's' (let us) is followed by a base verb to make a suggestion. When followed by an object and another verb, as in 'let's help each other follow...', the verb 'help' can take a bare infinitive (verb in its base form without 'to') or a full infinitive (with 'to'). Here, 'follow' is a bare infinitive.
Let's help him clean the kitchen.
EN: The reciprocal pronoun 'each other' is used to show that two or more people carry out an action to one another. In this sentence, it acts as the object of the verb 'help'.
We should respect each other.
EN: The pronoun 'everyone' is grammatically singular. Therefore, it takes the singular verb 'has' instead of 'have'.
Everyone wants to be happy.
EN: The word 'one' is used as an indefinite pronoun to avoid repeating a previously mentioned countable noun (in this case, 'dream'). 'Too' is an adverb meaning 'also', placed at the end of the clause.
I don't have a pen. Can you lend me one?
EN: The verb 'enjoy' is always followed by a gerund (verb-ing) when expressing an action that one likes doing. It cannot be followed by an infinitive (to + verb).
She enjoys playing the piano after dinner.
EN: The phrase 'more than anything' is a common idiom used to express that you like or want something more than any other option or activity. It functions as an adverbial modifier of degree.
I want to travel to Japan more than anything.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, expressing personal passions and dreams with strong emphasis (like 'more than anything') is highly encouraged and seen as a sign of enthusiasm and self-awareness, especially when discussing hobbies and future careers.
EN: The subordinate conjunction 'when' is used to introduce an adverbial clause of time, indicating the period during which the main action occurred. In this sentence, 'When I was young' sets the time frame for the main action 'I started to keep a diary'.
When I lived in Tokyo, I ate sushi every week.
EN: The verb 'start' can be followed by an infinitive ('to' + base verb) to indicate the beginning of an action. The phrase 'keep a diary' is a common collocation meaning to regularly write down daily experiences and thoughts.
She started to learn French last month.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, 'keeping a diary' or 'journaling' is a very common personal practice from a young age, often encouraged by teachers and parents to improve writing skills and express emotions.
EN: The verb 'love' can be followed by a gerund (verb-ing) to express a general preference or enjoyment of an activity. The gerund acts as the direct object of the verb.
She loves taking photos of nature.
EN: The possessive determiner 'own' is used after a possessive adjective (like 'my', 'your', 'his', 'her') to emphasize that something belongs to a specific person and no one else.
He wants to build his own house.
EN: The verb 'hope' is followed by a to-infinitive (to + base verb) when expressing a desire to perform an action in the future.
She hopes to travel around the world next year.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'in the future' is used as an adverbial modifier to specify when an event or state is expected to happen.
I want to buy a house in the future.
EN: The infinitive phrase 'To improve...' is used as an adverbial of purpose at the beginning of the sentence to state the goal or intention before the main action. It is often separated from the main clause by a comma.
To pass the exam, she studied until midnight.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'and' connects two parallel verbs in the simple present tense: 'read' and 'practice'. Both verbs share the same subject 'I'.
I eat healthy food and exercise every day.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to connect two independent clauses (complete sentences) that show contrast. A comma is typically placed before 'but' when it connects two independent clauses.
I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.
EN: The verb 'enjoy' is a transitive verb that must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or a gerund (V-ing) as its object. In this sentence, it is followed by the noun phrase 'different things'.
They enjoy playing board games on weekends.
EN: The noun clause starting with 'that' acts as the direct object of the verb 'believe'. The conjunction 'that' is often omitted in informal speech, but it introduces a complete sentence (subject + verb) that expresses the belief.
I believe that we can win the game.
EN: The causative verb 'make' is followed by an object and a bare infinitive (verb in base form without 'to') to express causing something to happen. The phrase 'make a dream come true' uses 'come' as the bare infinitive.
She wants to make her parents proud.
EN: The phrase 'make a dream come true' is a very common idiom in English-speaking cultures, reflecting a strong cultural value placed on individualism, self-determination, and the pursuit of personal goals (often referred to in the US as the 'American Dream').
EN: The infinitive 'to improve' is used here as an adverbial of purpose, explaining 'why' the action (what do you do) is performed. It can be translated as 'in order to' or 'to'.
I study hard to pass the exam.
EN: The word 'writing' is a gerund (verb + -ing acting as a noun), serving as the object of the transitive verb 'improve'. It refers to the activity or skill of writing.
She enjoys reading novels in her free time.
EN: The infinitive 'to learn' is used here as an adverbial of purpose (to-infinitive of purpose), which explains 'why' the action of reading is performed. It can be translated as 'in order to' or 'so as to'.
She saves money to buy a new laptop.
EN: The phrase 'a lot' is used as an adverb meaning 'very much' or 'frequently' to modify the verb 'read'.
He travels a lot for his job.
EN: The 'to-infinitive' (to + base verb) is used here as an adverbial of purpose, explaining 'why' the action (watching cooking shows) is performed. It can be translated as 'in order to' or 'to'.
She studies hard to pass the exam.
EN: Direct speech is often followed by a reporting verb (like 'says') and the speaker's name. In English, when the reporting clause comes after the quote, we use a comma inside the quotation marks instead of a period.
EN: The infinitive 'to become' is used here as an adverbial of purpose (to-infinitive of purpose), which explains 'why' the action of practicing is performed. It can be translated as 'in order to' or 'so as to'.
She studies hard to pass the exam.
EN: The verb 'says' is in the simple present tense, which is commonly used in written narratives or dialogues to report what a character is saying in the present moment of the story.
"I am ready," says Sarah.
EN: In English narratives, the reporting verb (like 'says' or 'said') can sometimes be placed before the subject (e.g., 'says Ryan' instead of 'Ryan says') when it comes after a direct quote. This is a stylistic choice common in storytelling to keep the focus on the dialogue.
EN: The infinitive 'to enter' is used here as an adverbial of purpose (to-infinitive of purpose), which explains 'why' the action of studying hard is performed. It can be translated as 'in order to' or 'so as to'.
She saves money to buy a new laptop.
EN: The verb 'study' is modified by the adverb 'hard'. In English, 'hard' can function as both an adjective and an adverb. Here, it is an adverb meaning 'with a great deal of effort'.
He works hard to support his family.
EN: In many cultures, including English-speaking countries, entering 'medical school' is highly prestigious and competitive, requiring immense dedication and high academic achievement. Unlike some countries where students enter medical school directly after high school, in the US and Canada, medical school is a graduate-level program entered after completing a bachelor's degree.
EN: The infinitive 'to improve' is used here as an infinitive of purpose, which explains 'why' the action of taking classes is performed. It can be translated as 'in order to' or 'to'.
He exercises every day to stay healthy.
EN: The word 'painting' is a gerund (a verb ending in -ing that functions as a noun). Here, it acts as the noun meaning the activity or art of creating pictures with paint.
My sister is very good at painting.
EN: The Present Continuous Tense (be + verb-ing) is used here to describe an ongoing action or a process happening around the present time ('are working').
They are studying hard to pass the exam.
EN: The 'to-infinitive' (to + base verb) is used to express purpose, answering the question 'why' an action is performed. Here, 'to reach' explains the purpose of 'working'.
She saved money to buy a new laptop.
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, so it takes a singular verb (e.g., 'is').
Learning a new language takes time.
EN: Adverb 'however' as a Parenthetical Insert: 'however' is used to show contrast. When placed at the end of a clause or sentence, it is preceded by a comma and adds a sense of 'but' or 'nevertheless' to the entire statement.
The test was difficult; I passed, however.
EN: In English narratives, when quoting direct speech, the reporting verb (like 'says' or 'asked') often undergoes inversion when it comes after the quote (e.g., 'says Emma' instead of 'Emma says'). This is a common stylistic device in storytelling to keep the focus on the dialogue.
EN: The verb 'enjoy' is a transitive verb that must be followed by a gerund (V-ing) rather than an infinitive (to V) when expressing an action that one finds pleasure in doing.
They enjoy playing board games on weekends.
EN: The nominal relative clause (or noun clause) introduced by 'what' functions as the object of the gerund 'doing'. Here, 'what' means 'the thing(s) that' and contains its own antecedent.
She always says what she thinks.
EN: In English narrative writing, especially in stories or dialogues, it is very common to invert the subject and verb (e.g., 'says Ryan' instead of 'Ryan says') when the reporting verb comes after the direct speech. This style adds a literary and rhythmic flow to the story.
EN: The preposition 'to' can be followed by a gerund (V-ing) when it functions as a preposition meaning 'directed toward' or 'associated with', rather than as part of an infinitive verb. In the phrase 'the secret to...', 'to' is a preposition, so the verb 'give' must become the gerund 'giving'.
The key to learning a new language is practice.
EN: The negative adverb 'never' is placed directly before the gerund 'giving up' to negate the action, meaning 'at no time doing so'.
She enjoys never having to wake up early on weekends.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
Time when you are not working or studying and can do what you want.
Used to refer to each member of a group when they are doing something to or with the other members.
To become reality; to actually happen.
To stop trying to do something before you have finished, usually because it is too difficult.