Laboratory Work
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EN: The preposition 'to' is used after 'welcome' to indicate the destination or place someone is being invited into. It functions as a directional marker.
Welcome to our new office in Taipei.
EN: Noun phrases like 'chemistry lab' use a noun (chemistry) to modify another noun (lab), creating a specific compound noun that defines the type of room.
She is waiting in the computer lab.
EN: In academic and professional settings, it is common to use a person's first name if a mentor-student relationship is established, but the student would typically address the professor by their title (e.g., 'Professor').
EN: The present simple tense of the 'be' verb (am) is used with an adjective (excited) to describe a current emotional state. The adverb 'really' is placed before the adjective to add emphasis.
I am really happy to meet you.
EN: The 'to + infinitive' structure (to be here) acts as an adverbial phrase explaining the reason for the emotion (excited).
She was surprised to see him at the party.
EN: In academic settings, it is common and respectful to address a professor by their title ('Professor') rather than their first name, especially in a first meeting or formal lab environment.
EN: Present Perfect Tense (Experience): Used to talk about life experiences at an unspecified time in the past. It is formed with 'have/has' + past participle.
Have you ever traveled to Japan?
EN: Gerund as Object of Preposition: After the preposition 'in', the noun phrase 'a lab' follows. If a verb were used, it would need to be in the -ing form.
She is interested in learning chemistry.
EN: In academic and professional settings, 'That is wonderful to hear' is a common polite way to encourage students or colleagues when they express enthusiasm.
EN: Present Perfect Tense (have + past participle): Used here to describe a life experience that occurred at an unspecified time in the past up to the present.
I have visited Tokyo three times.
EN: Adverb 'Only': Used to emphasize that something is limited to a specific place, person, or thing.
He only eats vegetables.
EN: In modern education, many students use YouTube as a primary learning resource. Mentioning this reflects a common contemporary reality where digital content precedes hands-on experience.
EN: The phrase 'be different from' is a common adjective pattern used to compare two things that are not the same. It is often followed by a noun or a gerund.
The climate in Taiwan is quite different from that in England.
EN: The expression 'something comes first' is an idiom used to emphasize that a particular thing is the most important priority in a given situation.
When you are driving, safety should always come first.
EN: In Western academic and professional laboratory settings, 'Safety First' is not just a slogan but a strict legal and ethical requirement. Before any practical work begins, a safety briefing is mandatory.
EN: The semi-modal verb 'need to' is used to express necessity or obligation. In questions, it follows the standard 'Do/Does + subject + need to + base verb' structure.
What do I need to bring for the hike?
EN: The conjunction 'before' introduces a subordinate clause of time. In this context, it uses the simple present tense ('we start') to refer to a future action.
Please wash your hands before you eat.
EN: In academic or professional settings, asking 'What do I need to do before we start?' demonstrates proactivity and a respect for safety protocols, which is highly valued in laboratory environments.
EN: The modal verb 'must' is used to express strong obligation or necessity. It is followed by the base form of the verb (in this case, 'put on').
You must follow the rules in the library.
EN: The phrasal verb 'put on' means to place a garment or accessory on one's body. It is a separable phrasal verb, though here the object follows the particle.
Please put on your jacket before going outside.
EN: In Western academic and professional laboratory settings, 'Safety First' is a strict protocol. Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like goggles and lab coats is often a legal requirement before any practical work begins.
EN: The modal verb 'should' is used to ask for advice or to check if an action is necessary or correct. In questions, the word order is 'Should + subject + base verb'.
Should I bring an umbrella today?
EN: The word 'them' is an object pronoun used to refer back to a plural noun mentioned previously (in this context, the safety goggles and lab coat).
I bought some apples and put them in the fridge.
EN: In a laboratory setting, safety protocols are strictly followed. Asking 'Should I...' demonstrates a responsible attitude toward safety and respect for the supervisor's expertise.
EN: Passive Voice (be + past participle): Used when the action is more important than the person performing it. Here, 'are required' emphasizes the rule/necessity.
Helmets are required for all cyclists.
EN: Subordinating Conjunction 'because': Used to introduce a clause that provides a reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
I stayed home because it was raining.
EN: In professional and educational lab settings in English-speaking countries, safety protocols are strictly enforced. The use of 'required' instead of 'should' emphasizes that this is a mandatory safety rule, not a suggestion.
EN: The causative verb 'let' is used to allow or permit someone to do something. It is followed by an object and the base form of a verb (bare infinitive).
Let me help you with those heavy bags.
EN: Indirect questions function as noun clauses. When a question like 'How does temperature affect dissolving?' is embedded within a sentence, the word order changes to subject + verb (temperature affects).
I don't know where he lives.
EN: In academic and scientific settings, 'let me' is a polite way for a person in authority (like a professor) to transition to a new topic or instruction while maintaining a collaborative tone.
EN: Linking Verbs (Sense Verbs): Verbs like 'sound', 'look', or 'feel' are followed by adjectives to describe the subject. They do not take an adverb in this context.
The music sounds beautiful.
EN: Wh- Questions with 'Be' Verb: To ask for information, place the question word (What) at the beginning, followed by the 'be' verb and then the subject.
What is your plan?
EN: In academic and scientific settings, using words like 'hypothesis' shows a professional approach to learning. It is common for students to use 'So' to transition from a comment to a specific question.
EN: The sentence uses a 'Noun Clause' starting with 'that' as a subject complement. This clause functions as a noun to explain what the 'hypothesis' is.
My belief is that practice makes perfect.
EN: The Present Simple tense is used here to state a scientific fact or a general truth (sugar dissolving in water).
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
EN: In academic and professional settings, 'Good question' is a common polite filler used by teachers or presenters to acknowledge a student's engagement before providing an answer.
EN: The adverb 'actually' is used to emphasize a fact or to correct a misconception. In this context, it adds a layer of confirmation to the speaker's prior knowledge.
I actually finished the report two days ago.
EN: The future simple tense (will + base verb) is used here to make a prediction based on personal opinion or belief.
I think it will rain tomorrow.
EN: In academic and scientific discussions, using 'actually' can signal that the speaker has done prior research or has background knowledge, which builds credibility even in a student-teacher dialogue.
EN: The modal verb 'shall' is used with first-person pronouns (I/We) to express a future intention or determination. In modern English, it often sounds more formal or certain than 'will'.
We shall overcome this challenge together.
EN: The preposition 'before' can be followed by a gerund (V-ing) when the subject of the main clause and the prepositional phrase is the same. This shortens the sentence from 'before he/she decides'.
Always wash your hands before eating.
EN: The phrase 'We shall see' is a common idiomatic expression used to withhold judgment until more information is available. It reflects the scientific principle of empiricism—relying on observation rather than assumptions.
EN: The phrase 'Here is/are' is used to introduce or point out something that is physically present or being presented at the moment. Even though 'equipment' is the subject, the sentence starts with 'Here' for emphasis.
Here is the book you were looking for.
EN: The colon (:) is used to introduce a list that clarifies or specifies the noun mentioned before it (in this case, 'equipment').
I need three things from the store: milk, eggs, and bread.
EN: In a laboratory setting, 'equipment' is an uncountable noun in English, meaning we don't say 'equipments'. We use specific names like 'beakers' or 'thermometers' to count individual items.
EN: The correlative pair 'one... and the other...' is used to refer to two specific items or people. 'One' identifies the first item, and 'the other' identifies the remaining one in a set of two.
I have two pens; one is blue and the other is red.
EN: The phrase 'I see' is a common idiomatic expression used to indicate that the speaker understands a situation or a piece of information.
Oh, I see why you are late now.
EN: In a scientific context, clarity and observation are key. Using 'I see' followed by a summary of what is observed is a standard way to confirm understanding of an experimental setup.
EN: Imperative Mood: The sentence starts with the base form of the verb 'add' to give an instruction or command. In English, the subject 'you' is understood and omitted in imperative sentences.
Mix the ingredients thoroughly before baking.
EN: Prepositional Phrase 'at the same time': This is a common idiomatic expression used as an adverbial phrase to indicate that two or more actions happen simultaneously.
They both started laughing at the same time.
EN: In a laboratory setting, instructions are often given using the imperative mood to ensure clarity and safety. Precision (e.g., 'one spoon', 'at the same time') is crucial in scientific communication.
EN: Present Continuous Tense: Used here to describe an action or process happening at the moment of speaking (is dissolving).
The ice is melting quickly under the sun.
EN: Comparative Adverbs with 'Much': The word 'much' is used as an intensifier before a comparative adverb (faster) to show a significant difference.
He runs much faster than I do.
EN: In a laboratory setting, 'Done!' is a common informal way to signal the completion of a step or the start of an observation. It reflects the hands-on, active nature of scientific experiments.
EN: The relative clause starting with 'when' functions as an adjective clause to modify the noun 'time', specifying which particular time is being referred to.
I remember the day when we first met.
EN: The imperative mood is used to give instructions or requests. It typically starts with a base verb (like 'write') and often includes 'please' for politeness.
Please turn off the lights before you leave.
EN: In academic and scientific settings, professors often use positive reinforcement like 'Excellent observation' to encourage students' critical thinking and engagement.
EN: The use of 'one' as a pronoun to avoid repeating a previously mentioned noun (in this case, 'sample'). It makes the sentence more concise and natural.
I have two pens; the blue one is my favorite.
EN: The verb 'take' is used to express the amount of time required to complete an action or process.
The flight to Tokyo takes four hours.
EN: The modal verb 'can' is used here to express ability or possibility. In a question format, the modal verb is placed before the subject (Subject-Auxiliary Inversion).
What can we learn from this experience?
EN: The preposition 'from' indicates the source or basis of a conclusion or information.
I can tell from your face that you are happy.
EN: In academic and scientific contexts, professors often use open-ended questions like this to encourage students to practice critical thinking rather than just giving them the answer.
EN: The sentence uses a 'Noun Clause' starting with 'that' as the direct object of the verb 'shows'. This structure allows you to state a fact or a finding as a complete thought within another sentence.
The study shows that sleep is important for health.
EN: The Present Simple tense is used here to express a scientific fact or a general truth (e.g., 'hot water dissolves sugar faster').
The sun rises in the east.
EN: In academic and scientific contexts, using structured language like 'The result shows that...' and 'Our hypothesis was...' is standard practice for reporting findings objectively.
EN: The Present Perfect Tense (have + past participle) is used here to describe an action that has just been completed, emphasizing the result in the present.
I have finished my homework already.
EN: Adverbs of Manner (successfully) are often placed at the end of a sentence or after the direct object to describe how an action was performed.
She passed the driving test successfully.
EN: In academic and professional settings, 'Well done' is a common and encouraging way to provide positive feedback. It acknowledges both the effort and the successful outcome.
EN: The structure 'much more than' is used to emphasize a comparative difference. 'Much' acts as an intensifier for the comparative adjective or adverb.
This new laptop is much more expensive than my old one.
EN: Gerunds (verb + -ing) can function as the object of a preposition. In this sentence, 'watching' is a gerund following the preposition 'than'.
She is better at drawing than singing.
EN: In academic settings, it is standard to address a professor by their title ('Professor') to show respect, rather than using their first name, especially in a formal lab environment.
EN: The structure 'Subject + be + adjective + to-infinitive' is used to express feelings or reactions to a specific action or piece of information.
She was surprised to see him at the party.
EN: The future tense 'will + base verb' is used here to express a plan or a promise made by the speaker for a future time (next week).
We will visit the museum tomorrow morning.
EN: In academic settings, professors often use encouraging phrases like 'I am glad to hear that' to build rapport and motivate students. The transition to 'your own experiment' signifies a shift from guided learning to independent inquiry, which is a key value in Western science education.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
Safety is the most important thing to consider in a situation.
To place a piece of clothing or equipment on one's body.
Simultaneously; happening or being done together.
To record information on paper.
To provide evidence that suggests a theory or hypothesis is correct.
A specific portion of a substance or material that is being studied or tested.
To plan the specific procedures, variables, and controls of a scientific study.