Inside the Science Lab (H2)
Listen to Course
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EN: Imperative sentences are used to give commands, instructions, or make requests. They start directly with the base form of the verb (bare infinitive), omitting the subject 'you' because it is understood.
Listen to the music playing in the background.
EN: Present participle phrases (verb-ing) can act as adjectives to modify a preceding noun. In this sentence, 'moving across the table' is a participle phrase modifying 'the robot', indicating an active, ongoing action.
Do you see the dog running in the park?
EN: Past Participle as an Adjective Modifier: The past participle 'built' (from the verb 'build') is used here as an adjective phrase 'built by our club' to modify the noun 'machine'. It is a shortened form of the relative clause 'which was built by our club'.
This is the cake made by my sister.
EN: Demonstrative Pronoun 'That': 'That' is used as a demonstrative pronoun to point to a specific singular thing that is physically or temporally distant from the speaker.
That is the car I want to buy.
EN: Present Participle Phrases (V-ing) as Adjective Modifiers: The present participle phrase 'working here' is used as an adjective to modify the noun 'The students'. It describes an ongoing action or state of the subject. This phrase is a shortened form of the relative clause 'who are working here'.
The boy playing the piano is my brother.
EN: Subject-Verb Agreement with Plural Nouns: When the subject of a sentence is a plural noun ('The students'), the verb must also be plural ('are'), even if there are singular words or phrases (like 'here') separating the subject and the verb.
The books on the table are mine.
EN: The verb 'see' is a sensory verb (verb of perception). It can be followed by an object and a present participle (V-ing) to describe an action that is in progress or happening at the moment of perception.
I heard someone knocking on the door.
EN: The preposition 'near' is used to indicate short distance in space. It means 'close to' and is followed directly by a noun phrase acting as its object.
EN: Past participle phrases (e.g., 'written last week') can be used as adjective phrases to modify a noun from behind. This is a shortened form of a relative clause ('which was written last week').
The letter sent yesterday arrived this morning.
EN: The adverb 'finally' is used to show that something happens after a long time or a lot of effort, typically placed before the main verb.
After hours of searching, we finally found the keys.
EN: Present Participle Phrases as Adjectives: The present participle phrase 'holding the tablet' is used as an adjective to modify the noun 'The girl'. It is a shortened form of the relative clause 'who is holding the tablet'. This structure helps make sentences more concise by removing the relative pronoun and the verb 'be'.
The man standing by the door is my uncle.
EN: Subject-Verb Agreement with Modifiers: When a subject is followed by a modifying phrase (such as a participle phrase), the verb must agree with the main subject noun, not the noun inside the modifier. Here, the singular subject 'The girl' takes the singular verb 'is', despite the plural-sounding context or any intervening nouns like 'tablet'.
The students working in the lab are very creative.
EN: The past participle ('ordered') is used here as a reduced relative clause (short for 'which were ordered') to modify the noun 'parts'. It has a passive meaning, indicating that the parts received the action of being ordered.
The books written by that author are very popular.
EN: 'Those' is a demonstrative pronoun used to point to plural things that are relatively far away from the speaker in distance or time.
Those are the shoes I want to buy.
EN: Present Participle Phrases as Adjectives: The present participle (-ing form) 'showing' is used here to introduce a participle phrase ('showing the data') that modifies the noun 'the screen'. It functions like a relative clause ('which shows the data') but is more concise. It describes an active action being performed by the noun.
The boy playing the piano is my brother.
EN: Subject-Verb Agreement with Modifiers: When a subject is followed by a modifying phrase (like 'showing the data'), the verb must still agree with the main subject noun ('the screen', which is singular), not the noun inside the modifier ('the data', which can be plural). Therefore, the singular verb 'is' is used.
The box of chocolates is on the table.
EN: Present Participle Phrases as Adjective Modifiers: A present participle phrase (verb-ing + object/modifier) can be used directly after a noun to describe what that noun is doing. It acts like a shortened relative clause (e.g., 'a printer making...' is short for 'a printer which is making...').
The boy playing the guitar is my brother.
EN: Onomatopoeic Verbs: The verb 'hum' is an onomatopoeic word that mimics the continuous, low sound made by machines or bees. When describing a soft sound, it is often paired with the adverb 'softly'.
The refrigerator hums quietly in the kitchen.
EN: Present participle phrases (V-ing) can be used as adjective phrases to modify the preceding noun. In this sentence, 'testing the sensor' modifies 'The team', functioning like a relative clause 'who are testing the sensor'.
The boy playing the guitar is my brother.
EN: Linking verbs (such as 'look', 'seem', 'feel') are followed by adjectives to describe the state or appearance of the subject. Here, 'looks' is the linking verb, and 'excited' is the adjective functioning as the subject complement.
The cake smells delicious.
EN: Past participle phrases (e.g., 'started in spring') can be used as adjective phrases to modify a noun. They have a passive meaning or indicate a completed action. In this sentence, 'started in spring' modifies 'The project'.
The book written by the famous author is a bestseller.
EN: The passive structure 'is now done' uses the linking verb 'is' with the past participle 'done' (acting as an adjective) to describe the current state of completion.
My homework is finally done.
EN: Past participle phrases (e.g., 'filled with...') can be used as adjective phrases to modify a preceding noun. 'Filled' is a past participle acting as a passive modifier, meaning 'which is filled'.
A library filled with books inspires students.
EN: The simple present tense is used here for a general truth or a state that is currently true. Since the subject 'A workshop' is third-person singular, the verb 'inspire' takes the suffix '-s' to become 'inspires'.
Nature inspires many artists.
EN: Present Participle Clause (V-ing clause) for simultaneous actions. When two actions happen at the same time and are done by the same subject, the first action can be shortened into a V-ing clause. Here, 'Stepping into...' is short for 'When I step into...'.
Walking down the street, I met an old friend.
EN: The noun phrase 'a buzz of energy' uses 'a buzz of' metaphorically to describe a strong, exciting feeling or atmosphere of activity and excitement.
There was a buzz of excitement in the classroom before the field trip.
EN: Present Participle Phrases as Adjective Modifiers: A present participle phrase (verb-ing + other words) can be used to modify a noun. It functions like a relative clause in active voice (e.g., 'Students who are working on projects...'). It is placed directly after the noun it modifies.
The girl playing the piano is my sister.
EN: Subject-Verb Agreement with Modifiers: When a long modifier (like 'working on projects') separates the subject ('Students') from the verb ('fill'), the verb must still agree with the plural subject, not the singular noun in the modifier ('projects').
The books left on the table belong to the library.
EN: Past participle phrases (e.g., 'built by my team') can be used as adjective phrases to modify a noun. They have a passive meaning and are shortened from relative clauses (e.g., 'which was built by my team').
The laptop repaired by the technician works perfectly now.
EN: Adverbs of manner (e.g., 'smoothly') describe how an action is performed. They are typically placed after the main verb or after the object if there is one.
The train stopped suddenly at the station.
EN: Past Participle as a Post-modifier: The past participle phrase 'written over many weeks' is used as an adjective to modify the noun 'The code'. It describes what happened to the noun in a passive sense (the code was written).
The letter sent yesterday arrived this morning.
EN: Subject-Verb Agreement with Modifier: When a long modifier (like 'written over many weeks') separates the subject ('The code') from the verb ('runs'), the verb must still agree with the singular subject.
The book borrowed from the library belongs to me.
EN: The verb 'see' is a sensory verb (verb of perception). It can be followed by an object and a present participle (verb-ing) to describe an action that is in progress or happening at the moment of perception.
I see a bird flying in the sky.
EN: The present participle 'making' acts as an object complement, describing the ongoing action of the '3D printer'.
She heard someone knocking on the door.
EN: Present Participle Phrases: The present participle phrase 'flying above us' is used as an adjective to modify the noun 'The drone'. It is a shortened form of the relative clause 'which is flying above us'.
The girl standing by the window is my sister.
EN: Passive Voice: The passive voice is formed with 'be + past participle' (is controlled). It is used here because the receiver of the action (the drone) is the subject of the sentence, and the doer (a phone) is introduced by the preposition 'by'.
This book was written by a famous scientist.
EN: Past participle phrases used as adjectives: The past participle 'shown' (from 'show') is used here as an adjective phrase 'shown on the big screen' to modify the noun 'data'. It has a passive meaning, indicating that the data is being displayed by something else.
The car repaired by the mechanic runs smoothly.
EN: The verb 'help' followed by a bare infinitive: The verb 'help' can be followed by an object and then either a to-infinitive or a bare infinitive (verb in its base form). In 'helps us improve', 'improve' is a bare infinitive acting as the object complement.
This map helps us find the way.
EN: Present Participle Phrases as Adjectives: The present participle phrase 'holding a soldering iron' functions as an adjective modifying the noun 'A girl'. It describes an ongoing action performed by the subject, acting as a shortened version of the relative clause 'who is holding a soldering iron'.
The boy playing the guitar is my brother.
EN: Subject-Verb Agreement with Singular Nouns: The subject 'A girl' is a singular third-person noun, which requires the singular verb form 'fixes' (verb + -es) in the simple present tense.
The chef prepares a delicious meal.
EN: In modern STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, hands-on activities like soldering circuits are highly encouraged for all students. Highlighting a 'girl' performing these technical tasks reflects a progressive shift towards gender inclusivity in engineering and technology fields.
EN: Present Participle Phrases: The present participle 'guiding' (verb-ing) is used here as an adjective phrase ('guiding us') to modify the noun 'The teacher'. It describes an active action being performed by the noun it modifies.
The boy playing the piano is my brother.
EN: Compound Adjectives: 'Thoughtful' is an adjective meaning showing consideration or deep integration of thoughts. In English, adjectives always precede the nouns they modify, such as 'thoughtful questions'.
She gave a thoughtful speech at the graduation.
EN: In Western educational settings, especially in science and project-based learning, teachers often act as 'guides on the side' rather than 'sages on the stage.' Asking 'thoughtful questions' is a key pedagogical strategy to encourage critical thinking and independent problem-solving among students.
EN: Past participle phrases (e.g., 'shared here') can be used as adjective phrases to modify a noun (e.g., 'Ideas'). They have a passive meaning, indicating that the action was done to the noun.
The books written by this author are very popular.
EN: The phrasal verb 'turn into' means to change or develop into something else, often used to describe a transformation.
With hard work, his dream turned into reality.
EN: The past participle phrase 'filled with...' is used as an adjective phrase modifying the preceding noun 'A space'. It is a reduced relative clause, shortened from 'A space which is filled with...'.
A room filled with books is a treasure chest.
EN: The causative verb 'make' is followed by an object ('learning') and an object complement (the adjective 'exciting') to describe the state or feeling caused by the subject.
This music makes me happy.
EN: Present participle phrases (V-ing) can be used as adjective phrases to modify the preceding noun. In this sentence, 'waiting on the shelf' modifies 'Every tool'. It is a shortened form of the relative clause 'which is waiting on the shelf'.
The boy playing the piano is my brother.
EN: The subject 'Every tool' is grammatically singular, so it takes the singular verb 'invites'. The structure 'invite someone to do something' means to encourage or welcome someone to perform an action.
The warm weather invites us to go for a walk.
EN: Present Continuous Tense in Questions: Used to ask about an action happening right now. It is formed with 'Wh- word + is/are + subject + verb-ing'.
What is she cooking in the kitchen?
EN: Adverbial of Place 'over there': Used to point out a location that is relatively far from both the speaker and the listener, often accompanied by pointing.
Who is standing over there by the door?
EN: Present Continuous Tense (am/is/are + V-ing) is used to describe an action that is happening right now, at the moment of speaking.
She is writing an email to her teacher.
EN: Past Participle as a Post-modifier (Reduced Relative Clause): The past participle 'designed' is used directly after the noun 'robot' to describe it, functioning as a shortened version of 'which was designed'. It has a passive meaning.
I like the model built by the younger team.
EN: Past Participle as an Adjective (Reduced Relative Clause): The past participle phrase 'built by the younger team' modifies the noun 'model'. It is a shortened form of the relative clause 'which was built by the younger team', used to describe a passive action.
I bought the book written by the famous author.
EN: Comparative Adjectives: The word 'younger' is the comparative form of the adjective 'young'. It is used to compare two groups (the younger team versus the older or other team).
She prefers the smaller laptop for traveling.
EN: Present Participle Phrases: The present participle phrase 'running on that tablet' acts as an adjective modifying the noun 'The app'. It is a shortened form of the relative clause 'which is running on that tablet'.
The man standing by the door is my uncle.
EN: Subject-Verb Agreement with Modifiers: When a subject is followed by a modifying phrase (like 'running on that tablet'), the verb must still agree with the main subject ('The app', which is singular), not the noun in the modifier ('tablet'). Therefore, we use the singular verb 'tracks'.
The book lying on those desks belongs to the teacher.
EN: Present Participle Phrases as Adjective Modifiers: A present participle phrase (verb-ing + other words) can be placed directly after a noun to describe what that noun is doing at the moment. It functions like a shortened relative clause (e.g., 'which is hovering').
The dog barking outside belongs to my neighbor.
EN: Linking Verbs (Sensory Verbs): 'Look' is used as a linking verb here, meaning 'to appear' or 'to seem'. It must be followed by an adjective (e.g., 'brand new') rather than an adverb, to describe the subject.
The freshly baked bread smells delicious.
EN: The past participle 'ordered' is used as a reduced relative clause (short for 'which were ordered') to modify the noun 'sensors'. This is a passive construction showing that the sensors did not perform the action, but were the recipient of it.
The books written by that author are very popular.
EN: The demonstrative pronoun 'Those' is used to point to plural nouns that are physically or temporally far from the speaker.
Those are the tools we need for the class.
EN: Present Participle as an Adjective (Reduced Relative Clause): The present participle phrase 'making parts' is used to modify the noun 'A printer'. It is a shortened form of the relative clause 'which makes parts'. The present participle (-ing) is used because the noun performs the action actively.
The boy playing the guitar is my brother.
EN: Double Object Verb (Ditransitive Verb): The verb 'save' can take two objects: an indirect object (us) and a direct object (lots of time). The structure is 'save + someone + something', meaning to prevent someone from spending or wasting something.
This new software will save you a lot of trouble.
EN: Present Participle Clauses: The present participle phrase 'testing the code' functions as an adjective clause modifying the noun 'the students'. It is a shortened form of the relative clause 'who are testing the code'.
The girl playing the piano is my sister.
EN: Linking Verbs: 'Seem' is a linking verb (copula) that connects the subject with a subject complement (an adjective) to describe the subject's state or appearance.
The team members seem happy with the results.
EN: The adjective phrase 'full of energy' is used as a post-modifier (after the noun) to describe the noun 'A lab'. It is a shortened form of the relative clause 'which is full of energy'.
A classroom full of students is always noisy.
EN: The causative verb 'make' is followed by an object and a bare infinitive (verb in its base form without 'to') to express causing someone to do something. In this sentence, 'makes us want' uses the base verb 'want'.
The funny movie makes me laugh.
EN: Present participle phrases (Verb-ing) can be used as adjective phrases to modify the preceding noun. 'Waiting here' modifies 'Tools', functioning like a relative clause 'which are waiting here'.
The students working in the lab are very creative.
EN: The phrasal verb 'turn A into B' means to transform or change A into B.
With hard work, they turned their dream into a successful business.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
A machine that creates three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file.
A tool used for melting solder to join metal parts together, especially in electronics.
A strong feeling of excitement, activity, and enthusiasm in a place.
To change or develop into something else.