Medical X-rays taken in space for the first time
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EN: Present Perfect Passive Voice (have/has been + past participle) is used to describe an action that has been completed at an unspecified time in the past, focusing on the result or the receiver of the action rather than who performed it.
Many new stars have been discovered by this telescope.
EN: The phrase 'for the first time in history' is a prepositional phrase used as an adverbial modifier to emphasize that an event has never occurred before in human records.
The two countries signed a peace treaty for the first time in history.
EN: Non-defining relative clauses (using 'which') add extra, non-essential information about a noun. They are separated from the main clause by a comma, and 'which' cannot be replaced by 'that'.
He bought a new laptop, which cost him a fortune.
EN: The past simple tense is used to describe completed actions that occurred at a specific time in the past (e.g., 'announced', 'happened').
The company launched its first satellite last year.
EN: The term 'commercial spaceflight' refers to the growing private space industry (such as SpaceX or Axiom Space), which represents a shift from government-funded space exploration (like NASA) to private-sector initiatives, enabling more diverse scientific research in orbit.
EN: Noun Clause as Object (that-clause): The verb 'believe' is followed by a noun clause functioning as its direct object. The conjunction 'that' is omitted here, which is very common in informal and semi-formal English when the meaning is clear.
They believe the project will succeed.
EN: Simple Present Tense for General Truths or Current Beliefs: The verbs 'believe' and 'marks' are in the simple present tense because they express a current, ongoing belief and a general statement about the significance of the achievement.
She believes this technology improves our daily lives.
EN: The Present/Past Perfect or Simple Past with 'for' + duration. Here, 'was' (Simple Past) is used because the situation of ultrasound being the *only* method has just ended with the new X-ray breakthrough. 'For more than forty years' indicates the duration of this past state.
For more than ten years, this old computer was the only tool I had for my work.
EN: Relative clauses with 'that'. The relative pronoun 'that' introduces a defining relative clause ('that doctors could use in space') to modify the noun phrase 'the only imaging method'. Since 'that' acts as the direct object of the verb 'use', it could grammatically be omitted, but keeping it adds clarity.
This is the only book that the students must read this semester.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'because' is used to introduce a dependent clause (adverbial clause of reason) that explains the cause or reason for the action or state in the main clause.
She stayed at home because it was raining heavily.
EN: The simple present tense is used here to state general facts or permanent situations. In the third-person singular ('it'), the verb 'require' takes the ending '-s' to become 'requires'.
This recipe requires fresh ingredients.
EN: The conjunction 'as' is used here to describe two developments that are happening at the same time, meaning 'while' or 'in proportion to the way in which'. It often connects a changing situation with its consequence.
As the weather gets colder, people spend more time indoors.
EN: The passive voice 'are needed' (be verb + past participle) is used when the agent performing the action (the people who need the tools) is obvious, unimportant, or unknown, focusing the attention on the receiver of the action ('better medical tools').
More volunteers are needed for the upcoming charity event.
EN: Apposition (Appositive Phrase): An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that sits next to another noun to rename or describe it. In this sentence, 'the lead researcher from Mayo Clinic in Minnesota' is an appositive phrase that provides more information about the subject 'Doctor Sheyna Gifford'. It is set off by commas.
Mr. Davis, the principal of our school, gave a speech.
EN: Prepositional Phrases as Modifiers: Prepositional phrases starting with 'from' and 'in' can act as adjectives to describe nouns. Here, 'from Mayo Clinic' describes 'the lead researcher', and 'in Minnesota' describes 'Mayo Clinic', creating a chain of specific details.
The teacher from the local college in Taipei won an award.
EN: Mayo Clinic is a highly prestigious, non-profit academic medical center based in Rochester, Minnesota. It is consistently ranked among the best hospitals in the United States and the world, known for its integrated clinical practice, education, and research.
EN: Noun clauses introduced by 'that' function as the direct object of a reporting verb (like 'said'). The conjunction 'that' is often omitted in informal speech, but it is kept here to clearly introduce the reported statement.
He said that the new project would start next week.
EN: The quantifier 'too much' is used with uncountable nouns (like 'radiation') to express an excessive amount that goes beyond what is desirable or safe.
Drinking too much coffee can make you feel nervous.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'so' is used to connect two independent clauses, showing a cause-and-effect relationship where the second clause is the result of the first.
The weather was terrible, so we decided to stay indoors.
EN: The 'that-clause' acts as a noun clause serving as the direct object of the verb 'believed'. It contains a gerund phrase 'taking clear X-ray images in orbit' acting as the subject of the noun clause.
She believed that learning a new language was very rewarding.
EN: The verb 'give' is a ditransitive verb, which means it can take two objects: an indirect object (the recipient, 'Doctor Gifford's team') and a direct object (the thing being given, 'a new opportunity'). The structure is: Subject + give + Indirect Object + Direct Object.
The company gave the employees a special bonus.
EN: Noun adjuncts (or noun premodifiers) occur when a noun functions as an adjective to modify another noun. In 'X-ray machines', 'X-ray' acts as an adjective describing the type of 'machines'. Similarly, in 'spaceflight', 'space' modifies 'flight'.
She bought a new leather jacket at the clothing store.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'with...' is used as an adjective phrase to modify the noun 'flight crew'. It describes a characteristic or possession of the noun, meaning 'having' or 'possessing'.
A teacher with extensive experience joined our school.
EN: The Simple Past Tense ('carried') is used to describe a completed action that took place at a specific time in the past (indicated here by the time marker 'In 2022').
In 2019, the company launched its first smartphone.
EN: The phrase 'be able to' is used to express ability or capability, often in a specific past situation where someone succeeded in doing something. It is followed by the base form of the verb.
She was able to finish the project on time despite the difficulties.
EN: The relative pronoun 'which' can be used to introduce a non-defining relative clause that refers back to the entire preceding clause, rather than just a single noun. It is always preceded by a comma.
He passed the difficult exam, which surprised everyone.
EN: The conjunction 'that' is used to introduce a noun clause functioning as the direct object of the reporting verb 'said'. In informal English, 'that' is often omitted, but it is retained here for clarity and formal structure.
She said that the results would be ready tomorrow.
EN: The preposition 'for' is followed by a gerund ('diagnosing') to express the purpose or function of an object or action. A gerund is a verb ending in -ing that functions as a noun.
This tool is excellent for measuring small distances.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
A journey through space
A technique used to create images of the human body for clinical purposes
The substance or material through which a sound wave travels
The personnel who operate an aircraft or spacecraft during flight