The Typhoon Day (J7B)
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EN: Use 'Where were you...?' to ask about someone's location in the past. 'Were' is the past tense of 'are' used with 'you'.
Where were you yesterday morning?
EN: In places like Taiwan, typhoons are a common seasonal occurrence. Asking friends and family where they were or how they fared during a typhoon is a common way to show care and start a conversation after the storm passes.
EN: Use 'was' to talk about where you were or how you felt in the past. It is the past tense of 'am' and 'is' for 'I', 'he', 'she', and 'it'.
I was at school yesterday.
EN: Use 'were' as the past tense of 'are' for plural subjects (we, you, they) to describe states or feelings in the past.
We were happy yesterday.
EN: Use 'were' to describe plural nouns (more than one person, place, or thing) in the past tense.
The windows were dirty.
EN: Use 'was' with 'I', 'he', 'she', or 'it' to talk about feelings or states in the past. 'Last night' is a common time marker used with the past tense.
I was tired last night.
EN: To ask a yes/no question about a past state or situation with a singular noun (like 'the school'), we start the sentence with 'Was'. The pattern is: Was + subject + adjective/noun?
Was the library open yesterday?
EN: We use 'were' as the past tense of 'are' for plural subjects like 'we', 'you', and 'they'. It describes a state or feeling in the past.
We were tired after the long day.
EN: The pattern 'be busy at work' is used to describe someone who is actively engaged in their job or workplace tasks. In the past tense, 'were' is used with plural subjects like 'my parents'.
They were busy at work all morning.
EN: Use 'were' as the past tense of 'are' when the subject is 'we', 'you', or 'they'. It describes a state or feeling in the past.
We were tired after the long walk.
EN: Use 'for' followed by a length of time to show how long an action or situation lasts.
I studied English for one hour.
EN: Use 'but' to connect two contrasting adjectives (strange vs. cozy) that describe the same noun (day).
It was a long but fun movie.
EN: The past simple tense of the 'be' verb is used to describe states or feelings in the past. Use 'were' for plural subjects (we, they, you) and 'was' for singular subjects (I, he, she, it).
They were happy, and it was a great day.
EN: We use 'there was' to say that something existed in the past. It is used with singular nouns (like 'a big typhoon').
There was a beautiful park near my house.
EN: Use 'was' to describe a past state or condition of a singular noun (like 'the wind' or 'the rain'). This is the past tense of 'is'.
The coffee was hot.
EN: Use 'so' to connect a cause and a result. The cause comes before 'so', and the result comes after it.
It was raining, so we stayed inside.
EN: Use 'was' to describe feelings or states in the past for 'I' and singular nouns like 'my family'.
I was tired, but my sister was energetic.
EN: The pattern 'be busy doing something' is used to describe that someone is actively spending time on a specific activity. In this sentence, 'were' is the past tense of 'be' because the action happened in the past.
They were busy preparing for the party.
EN: Use 'so' to connect a cause and a result. The cause comes before 'so', and the result comes after it.
It was raining, so we stayed inside.
EN: Use 'were' as the past tense of 'are' with plural subjects like 'we', 'you', and 'they' to describe past states or feelings.
We were tired after the long walk.
EN: The past tense of the 'be' verb is used to describe states or feelings in the past. We use 'were' for plural subjects (we, they, you) and 'was' for singular subjects (I, he, she, it).
They were happy, and it was a great day.
EN: Using 'that' as a relative pronoun to connect two ideas. It helps describe the noun before it (a scary day) by adding more information (became a warm memory) without starting a new sentence.
He told a story that made everyone laugh.
EN: To ask about a past location, we use 'Where were you...?' with the past tense verb 'were' for the subject 'you'.
Where were you this morning?
EN: Use 'was' to talk about where you were in the past. The structure is: Subject (I/He/She/It) + was + at/in/on + place.
She was at the library yesterday.
EN: To ask a yes/no question about the past with plural nouns, we start the sentence with 'Were' followed by the subject.
Were the windows open last night?
EN: We use 'by' followed by a time to mean 'not later than' or 'at or before' that specific time.
Please finish your homework by 8:00 PM.
EN: Use 'was' to describe states, feelings, or locations in the past for 'I', 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
I was happy yesterday.
EN: Use 'because of' followed by a noun or noun phrase to give a reason for something.
We stayed at home because of the snow.
EN: The phrase 'be worried about' is used to show that someone is feeling anxious or concerned about a person or situation. Since this happened in the past, we use the past tense 'were' to match the plural subject 'my grandparents'.
She was worried about her exam.
EN: Using 'be lucky that...' followed by a clause is a common way to express gratitude or relief about a specific situation. 'That' can be omitted in casual speech.
We were lucky that the rain stopped.
EN: Use 'but' to connect two contrasting ideas. It shows a change from a negative or neutral situation to a positive one.
The weather was cold, but we were warm.
EN: Use 'but' to connect two adjectives with contrasting meanings (e.g., 'long' which can feel tiring, and 'peaceful' which is positive).
The movie was short but exciting.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
The electricity supply was disconnected or unavailable.
A large amount of rain falling quickly.
As a result of; owing to.
Anxious or troubled about someone or something.