Tom Skerritt obituary
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EN: Use the present perfect tense (have/has + past participle) to report recent news or events without stating an exact past time.
A famous singer has arrived in our city.
EN: In English news reports and obituaries, the phrase 'has died' is commonly used to announce someone's death respectfully and factually, usually accompanied by their age at the time of death.
EN: Use 'be admired for + noun' to express that someone is respected or praised because of something specific.
She was admired for her kindness.
EN: The three films listed—Alien (1979), Top Gun (1986), and A River Runs Through It (1992)—are major landmarks in American cinema history across sci-fi, action, and drama genres, reflecting Tom Skerritt's wide acting range.
EN: Use 'like' to give examples of a category or group mentioned before.
She enjoys outdoor activities, like hiking and swimming.
EN: The phrase 'authority figure' is widely used in American media and sociology to describe characters with legitimate power or command, such as military commanders, police sheriffs, or senior officials—roles that Tom Skerritt frequently embodied throughout his career.
EN: The idiom 'big break' refers to an important opportunity that leads to success, especially in entertainment or career. In the past tense, we use 'came' (the past form of 'come') to show when this event happened.
Her big break came when she won the national singing contest.
EN: In Hollywood and show business, a 'big break' refers to an actor's first major breakthrough role that launches them from obscurity to fame. The 1970 film M*A*S*H (often written MASH) was a critically acclaimed anti-war satire directed by Robert Altman, which later inspired a legendary television series.
EN: Use 'named + [Name]' after a noun to quickly tell someone's name without needing a full clause like 'who was named'.
She met a friendly boy named Leo at school.
EN: The 1970 film MASH is a famous dark comedy about medical personnel serving in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War (1950–1953).
EN: Use the past simple tense verb 'played' with a character's name to describe an actor's role in a movie or show: 'played [character] in [movie]'.
In 2008, Robert Downey Jr. played Iron Man in a famous movie.
EN: The 1979 film 'Alien', directed by Ridley Scott, is a landmark in science fiction and horror cinema. Tom Skerritt played Arthur Dallas, the captain of the commercial towing spaceship Nostromo.
EN: Use 'called + name' after a noun to mean 'with the name of' or 'named'. It is a short way of saying 'which was called'.
I watched a movie called Inception.
EN: Picket Fences was an acclaimed 1990s American drama series about life and legal cases in a small town. The phrase 'white picket fences' is often used in American culture to symbolize traditional, peaceful suburban life.
EN: We can put a noun phrase right after another noun (separated by commas) to explain what it means. This is called an appositive.
She met Mr. Brown, an English teacher, at the library.
EN: In the United States, a 'sheriff' is typically an elected law enforcement official responsible for a county or rural town, distinct from a city police chief who is appointed.
EN: We use the verb 'last' followed by 'for + period of time' to say how long something continues.
The movie lasted for two hours.
EN: In English, media types take different prepositions: we say 'in films' or 'in movies', but 'on TV' or 'on the radio'.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
a person who has power, influence, or control over others
having the control or responsibility for something or someone
a significant, fortunate opportunity that leads to success, especially in a career
the profession or life's work of being an actor