A Video Chat (J7A)
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EN: To ask a question with the verb 'to be' (am/is/are), we put the verb before the subject. For example, 'You are...' becomes 'Are you...?'
Are you ready?
EN: In online chats or phone calls, 'Are you there?' is a very common and friendly way to check if the other person is available to talk, similar to 'Are you online?' or 'Do you have a moment?'
EN: Use the preposition 'from' to show the place where someone or something starts or comes from.
I am from Taiwan.
EN: In online group chats or video calls, it is very common to say 'Hello from [Location]' to let people know where you are joining from, especially across different time zones.
EN: We use 'What day is it...?' to ask about the day of the week (e.g., Monday, Tuesday). The word 'it' is used as a dummy subject to talk about time or day.
What day is it today?
EN: When communicating with people in different countries, it is common to ask about the day or time because of time zone differences. For example, when it is Friday night in Taiwan, it is Friday morning in the USA.
EN: We use 'It' as a dummy subject when talking about time, weather, or days. It has no actual meaning here and does not refer to a specific object.
It is Monday today.
EN: When communicating across different time zones (like between Taiwan and the USA), people often add 'here' or 'there' to clarify which local time they are referring to.
EN: We use 'it' as a dummy subject to talk about time, day, date, or weather. It doesn't refer to a specific object.
It is Sunday morning.
EN: When communicating with people in different countries (like the USA and Taiwan), mentioning the day and time helps bridge the time zone gap and shows consideration for the other person's schedule.
EN: Use 'What time is it in [Place]?' to ask about the current time in a specific city or country. 'It' is used as a dummy subject to talk about time.
What time is it in London?
EN: Taiwan is 12 to 13 hours ahead of New York (depending on Daylight Saving Time) and 8 hours ahead of London. When asking people from different countries about the time, it's a great way to start a conversation about daily routines.
EN: In English, we use 'It' as a dummy subject when talking about time, weather, or distance. It doesn't refer to a specific object; it just fills the subject position.
It is ten a.m. now.
EN: In English-speaking countries, the 12-hour clock with 'a.m.' (ante meridiem, before noon) and 'p.m.' (post meridiem, after noon) is very commonly used in daily conversation rather than the 24-hour clock.
EN: Use 'It is' followed by a time to state what time it is. 'It' acts as a placeholder subject and does not refer to a specific object.
It is ten p.m. now.
EN: In English, 'a.m.' (ante meridiem) is used for morning hours (midnight to noon), and 'p.m.' (post meridiem) is used for afternoon and evening hours. People often use these abbreviations in daily chats to clarify time zone differences.
EN: We use 'have' with 'I', 'you', 'we', and 'they' to show possession or that we are participating in an event.
We have a class tomorrow.
EN: In English-speaking environments, 'group meeting' often implies a collaborative session for school projects or work. Adding 'tonight' at the end of the sentence is the natural way to specify the time in English, whereas in Chinese, time is usually placed earlier in the sentence.
EN: Imperative sentences are used to give commands, polite requests, or invitations. They start directly with the base form of the verb (like 'join'), and the subject 'you' is omitted because it is understood.
Come with us next time!
EN: In English-speaking cultures, inviting someone with 'next time' is a warm and polite way to show that you enjoy their company and want to include them in future activities, even if they cannot make it this time.
EN: Use 'Let's' followed by a base verb to make a suggestion or invite someone to do something together.
Let's go to the park.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, 'Sure!' is a very common and friendly way to agree to a proposal. Also, note that days of the week like 'Saturday' must always be capitalized.
EN: Use the preposition 'at' before a specific time of day (e.g., at ten a.m., at noon, at 3:00).
Let's meet at two p.m.
EN: When communicating with people in different countries, adding phrases like 'our time' or 'your time' is a polite and practical way to clarify which time zone you are referring to, preventing scheduling confusion.
EN: To state the day of the week, we use the structure 'Today is [Day of the Week]'. Note that days of the week in English must always start with a capital letter.
Today is Sunday.
EN: In many English-speaking countries, Saturday is the start of the weekend, a time when people usually do not work and enjoy leisure activities or spend time with family.
EN: Use 'the weekend' to talk about the period of time containing Saturday and Sunday. We use the verb 'love' followed directly by a noun to show we like something very much.
I love the summer.
EN: In many English-speaking cultures, 'the weekend' (Saturday and Sunday) is highly anticipated as a time for rest, family, and hobbies, often celebrated with the phrase 'Thank God It's Friday' (TGIF).
EN: Use the preposition 'on' before specific days of the week (like Saturday, Sunday) and specific day parts (like Saturday morning, Sunday afternoon).
On Sunday afternoon, I visit my grandmother.
EN: In many English-speaking countries, Saturday morning is a traditional time for children and community members to participate in local sports leagues or recreational activities.
EN: Use the preposition 'at' before specific times of the day, such as 'noon', 'night', or specific clock times (e.g., 'at 5 p.m.').
I go to bed at night.
EN: In many English-speaking countries, lunch is often a quick, light meal (like a sandwich or salad) eaten around noon, especially on workdays. However, having lunch with family on weekends is a common way to spend quality time together.
EN: Use the preposition 'on' before days of the week (e.g., Sunday, Monday) to show when an action happens.
On Saturday, I play basketball.
EN: Use 'in the afternoon' to talk about things you do during the afternoon. We use 'in the' before 'morning', 'afternoon', and 'evening'.
I read a book in the afternoon.
EN: In English, time words like 'tonight' can be placed at the very beginning of a sentence to emphasize when the action happens. When placed at the start, we usually put a comma after it.
Tonight, I have a basketball game.
EN: With the rise of remote work and study, 'online meetings' have become a standard part of daily life. The word 'online' functions as an adverb here, meaning 'on the internet', and is placed after the noun it describes.
EN: Use the preposition 'at' before specific times of the day (e.g., at eight p.m., at noon, at midnight).
We meet at nine a.m.
EN: In English, 'p.m.' stands for 'post meridiem' (after midday) and is used for times from 12:00 PM (noon) to 11:59 PM. It is common to write it in lowercase with periods (p.m.) or uppercase (PM).
EN: When the subject is a single person (he, she, it, or a singular noun like 'my friend David'), we add 's' or 'es' to the action word (verb) in the present tense. Here, 'join' becomes 'joins'.
My sister lives in Taiwan.
EN: When referring to the United States in English, it is common to use 'the USA' or 'the US'. Note that the definite article 'the' is always required before 'USA'.
EN: Use 'but' to connect two contrasting ideas. It shows that although the first part is true, the second part is also true and different in feeling.
English is hard, but it is fun.
EN: Use the pattern 'What time is it in [Place]?' to ask about the current time in a specific city or country.
What time is it in London?
EN: New York is in the Eastern Time Zone (ET) of the USA, which is 12 or 13 hours behind Taiwan, depending on Daylight Saving Time.
EN: We use 'It' as a dummy subject when talking about time, weather, or distance. It does not refer to a specific thing.
It is eight p.m. now.
EN: In English, when stating a location, we usually go from the specific to the general (e.g., 'here' then 'in New York'). Also, 'a.m.' stands for 'ante meridiem' (before noon) and is commonly used in daily conversations to specify morning times.
EN: Use 'And in + [Place]?' as a short way to ask 'What about the situation in [Place]?' or 'What time is it in [Place]?' without repeating the whole question.
And in Tokyo?
EN: In English conversations, people often use short fragments like 'And in...?' to keep the dialogue fast and natural, especially when asking the same question about different places.
EN: We use 'I think' at the end of a sentence to show that we are not 100% sure about something. It makes the statement sound softer and less direct.
It is raining in New York, I think.
EN: London is the reference point for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). When talking to people in different countries, people often have to calculate time differences, leading to expressions of uncertainty like 'I think'.
EN: The phrase 'What about...?' is used to ask for information about someone or something, or to make a suggestion. It is a simple way to ask the same question about a new topic without repeating the whole question.
What about London?
EN: In English conversations, 'What about...?' or 'How about...?' is a very common and polite way to keep a conversation going by asking for the other person's input on a specific topic, such as different cities or time zones.
EN: We use 'It' as a dummy subject to talk about time. It has no actual meaning here, but it is necessary to complete the sentence structure.
It is ten a.m. in New York.
EN: In English, 'p.m.' stands for 'post meridiem' (after midday) and is used for times from 12:00 PM (noon) to 11:59 PM. It is written in lowercase with periods in standard American English.
EN: We use 'so many' before plural countable nouns (like 'times') to emphasize a very large quantity.
There are so many books in the library.
EN: In English, 'times' is used here to refer to different time zones around the world. It highlights the speaker's realization of how global communication spans across different hours of the day.
EN: Use 'has' with singular pronouns like 'everyone' to show possession or state in the simple present tense.
Everyone has a book.
EN: The phrase 'everyone has a different clock' metaphorically refers to the fact that people live in different time zones around the world, but it can also poetically mean that everyone lives life at their own pace.
EN: Use 'Let's' followed by a base verb to make a suggestion or invite someone to do something together.
Let's meet tomorrow.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, 'Let's chat again on Sunday' is a warm and casual way to end a conversation while keeping in touch. Using 'on' before days of the week (like Sunday) is standard grammar.
EN: Use 'at' before a specific time of day (e.g., at ten a.m., at noon, at night) to show exactly when something happens.
Let's meet at three p.m.
EN: When communicating across different countries, people often add 'your time' or 'my time' to avoid confusion caused by time zone differences.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
A gathering of people to discuss specific topics or work together.
To get ready for something that will happen in the future.
To complete school assignments given to be done at home.
The adjacent future occasion; on the subsequent occasion.