Never Give Up (J9A)
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EN: The subordinating conjunction 'because' is used to introduce a clause that gives the reason for an action. In English, the main clause usually comes first, followed by the 'because' clause, without a comma.
She stayed home because it was raining.
EN: The verb 'want' is followed by a to-infinitive (to + base verb) when expressing a desire to perform an action.
They want to learn English.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'although' is used to introduce a concession clause, showing a contrast between two ideas. In English, 'although' and 'but' cannot be used in the same sentence to connect the same two clauses, unlike in Chinese where '雖然' (although) and '但是' (but) often appear together.
Although it was raining, they went for a walk.
EN: The idiom 'give one's best' (or 'do one's best') means to make the greatest effort possible. 'Gave' is the past tense of 'give', used here to describe a completed action in the past.
She gave her best during the interview.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, emphasizing personal effort ('giving one's best') is highly valued, often more so than the actual outcome or winning. This reflects a growth mindset where personal growth and resilience are celebrated.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'so' is used to connect two independent clauses, where the second clause represents the result or consequence of the first clause.
It started to rain, so we stayed indoors.
EN: The verb 'feel' is a linking verb (copula) that is followed by an adjective (e.g., 'sad') to describe the subject's emotional or physical state. In the past tense, it becomes 'felt'.
She felt tired after the long walk.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to connect two independent clauses that show contrast. It is preceded by a comma when connecting two complete sentences.
She wanted to go to the party, but she was too tired.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'at first' is used as an adverbial modifier meaning 'initially' or 'at the beginning', often contrasted with what happens later.
The language was difficult at first, but it got easier.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'because' is used to introduce a dependent clause (adverbial clause of reason) that explains the cause of the action in the main clause.
They succeeded because they worked as a team.
EN: The verb 'stop' can be followed by a gerund (verb-ing) to mean ceasing an activity or habit that was in progress.
She stopped playing the piano when the guests arrived.
EN: The phrase reflects a growth mindset, highly valued in modern Western educational and professional cultures, emphasizing persistence over innate talent.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'although' is used to introduce a concession clause, showing a contrast between two ideas. In English, 'although' and 'but' cannot be used in the same sentence to connect the clauses; only one of them is used.
Although it was raining, they enjoyed the outdoor concert.
EN: The adjective 'worth' is used in the pattern 'be worth + noun/pronoun' to indicate that something has a value equal to the effort, time, or money spent.
The long journey was worth the effort because we saw the beautiful sunrise.
EN: The conjunction 'so that' is used to express purpose or intention. It is typically followed by a clause containing a modal verb like 'can', 'could', 'may', 'might', or 'will' to show the desired outcome.
She saves money so that she can buy a new laptop.
EN: The word 'better' is the comparative form of the adverb 'well' in this context, modifying the verb 'write'. It indicates an improvement in performance or quality.
If you practice daily, you will speak better.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to connect two independent clauses that show contrast. It indicates that the second action ('did not give up') is unexpected or contrary to what might be assumed after the first action ('failed once').
He was tired, but he finished his homework.
EN: The phrasal verb 'give up' means to stop trying to do something. In the past tense negative, it uses the auxiliary verb 'did not' (or 'didn't') followed by the base form of the verb 'give'.
They did not give up even when the game became difficult.
EN: The phrase 'give up' is a very common idiomatic expression in English-speaking cultures, often associated with resilience and the 'never give up' attitude, which is highly valued in sports, academics, and personal growth.
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 in the main clause. In English, we do not use 'so' in the main clause when 'because' is used.
She stayed at home because it was raining.
EN: The simple past tense ('joined') is used to describe an action that was completed at a specific time in the past, while the simple present tense ('love') is used to express a timeless truth, habit, or ongoing state/feeling.
I bought the book because I love reading.
EN: The conjunction 'even though' is used to introduce a concession clause, expressing a fact that makes the main statement surprising or unexpected. Unlike Chinese, which often pairs 'although/even though' with 'but', English does not use 'but' in the main clause when 'even though' is present.
Even though she was tired, she finished her homework.
EN: The verb 'keep' followed by a gerund (verb-ing) means to continue doing something without stopping, or to do something repeatedly.
He kept talking even after the movie started.
EN: First Conditional (Real Conditional): Used to talk about things that are normal, possible, or likely to happen in the future if a certain condition is met. The structure is 'will + base verb' in the main clause, and 'simple present tense' in the conditional (if) clause.
If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic.
EN: Keep + Gerund (V-ing): The verb 'keep' is followed by a gerund (verb ending in -ing) to express the continuation of an action, meaning to do something repeatedly or continuously.
You should keep practicing if you want to play the piano well.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'because' is used to introduce a subordinate clause (dependent clause) that states the reason or cause for the action in the main clause.
We stayed indoors because it was raining heavily.
EN: The verb 'teach' can take a double object structure: 'teach + indirect object (person) + direct object (thing)'. In this sentence, 'us' is the indirect object, and 'a lot' functions adverbially to modify the action of teaching.
She teaches us English every Tuesday.
EN: In Western educational and professional cultures, mistakes are often viewed positively as essential learning opportunities rather than failures. This growth mindset is reflected in common idioms like 'learn from your mistakes' and 'trial and error'.
EN: The Simple Past Tense is used to describe an action that was completed at a specific time in the past. In this sentence, the regular verb 'join' is inflected to 'joined' to indicate a past event.
She joined the tennis club last year.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'for the first time' is used as an adverbial modifier to indicate that an action has never been done before by the subject.
I traveled abroad for the first time in 2018.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'although' is used to introduce a concession clause, showing contrast. In English, 'although' and 'but' cannot be used in the same sentence to connect the clauses, unlike in Chinese where '雖然' (although) and '但是' (but) often appear together.
Although it was raining heavily, they went for a walk.
EN: The verb 'decide' is followed by an infinitive (to + verb) to express an intention or choice to perform an action.
She decided to study abroad next year.
EN: The conjunction 'because' is used to introduce a subordinate clause of reason, explaining why the action in the main clause ('I prepared for weeks') occurred.
She stayed home because she was feeling unwell.
EN: The verb 'want' is followed by a to-infinitive ('to do') as its direct object to express a desire or intention.
They wanted to buy a new car.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, expressing personal effort and the desire to perform well ('do well') is highly valued, reflecting a strong emphasis on individual growth, preparation, and personal accountability.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to connect two independent clauses that show contrast. An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence because it expresses a complete thought.
She wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.
EN: The phrasal verb 'learn from' means to gain knowledge, understanding, or experience from a past mistake, failure, or event so that you do not repeat it in the future.
We can learn from our past experiences to make better decisions.
EN: In Western culture, especially in academic and professional settings, failure is often reframed as a valuable learning experience rather than a permanent defeat. Phrases like 'learn from mistakes' reflect a 'growth mindset' that is highly encouraged in schools and workplaces.
EN: The conjunction 'even though' is used to introduce a concession clause, expressing a fact that makes the main statement surprising or unexpected. Unlike in Chinese, we do not use 'but' (但是) in the main clause when 'even though' is used.
Even though she was tired, she finished her homework.
EN: The verb 'keep' followed by a gerund (V-ing) is a common structure meaning to continue doing something without stopping, or to do something repeatedly.
He kept practicing the piano until late at night.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'so' is used to connect two independent clauses, showing a cause-and-effect relationship. The first clause ('My friends helped me') is the cause, and the second clause ('I felt much more confident') is the result.
It started to rain, so we decided to stay indoors.
EN: The word 'much' can be used as an adverb of degree to modify comparative adjectives (like 'more confident') to add emphasis, meaning 'by a great deal' or 'significantly'.
This smartphone is much more expensive than the old one.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to connect two independent clauses that present contrasting ideas. In this sentence, it contrasts the negative outcome of not winning with the positive feeling of self-pride.
The test was difficult, but she passed it.
EN: The adjective phrase 'be proud of' is used to express deep satisfaction on achievements. When the subject and the object of the preposition 'of' are the same person, a reflexive pronoun (e.g., 'myself', 'himself') must be used.
You should be proud of yourself for trying so hard.
EN: In Western culture, especially in educational and sports settings, there is a strong emphasis on 'personal growth' and 'effort' rather than just winning. Expressing pride in oneself despite not getting the top prize is highly encouraged as a sign of healthy self-esteem and resilience.
EN: The conjunction 'because' is used to introduce a subordinate clause that states the reason for the action in the main clause. In this sentence, 'because I dared...' explains why the speaker 'grew a lot'.
She succeeded because she worked hard.
EN: The verb 'dare' can be used as a main verb meaning 'to have the courage to do something'. It is commonly followed by a to-infinitive (dare to do something).
He did not dare to speak the truth.
EN: The phrase 'step out of one's comfort zone' is a very common idiom in English-speaking personal development culture. It refers to doing things that you are not comfortable with or that challenge you, which is widely seen as the key to personal growth and learning. In casual speech, 'zone' is sometimes omitted if the context is clear.
EN: The adverbial clause of time introduced by 'when' indicates the specific condition or moment under which the main action occurs. In this sentence, 'when' connects the main clause 'Real success comes' with the subordinate clause 'we keep going...'.
True happiness begins when we learn to appreciate what we have.
EN: The phrasal verb 'keep going' means to persevere or continue doing something despite difficulties. It is often followed by a gerund (V-ing) or used intransitively as seen here.
Even though you are tired, you must keep going to reach the summit.
EN: This sentence reflects a growth mindset, which is highly valued in modern Western educational and professional cultures. It emphasizes that failure is not the opposite of success, but rather a necessary stepping stone toward it.
EN: Wh-questions in the simple past tense use the auxiliary verb 'did' followed by the subject and the base form of the main verb (infinitive without 'to'). Even though the action happened in the past, the main verb 'join' remains in its base form because 'did' already indicates the past tense.
Why did you choose this book?
EN: Direct address is a grammatical construction where a speaker addresses a person directly by name. In writing, the name of the person being addressed (Emma) is separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. In speaking, it often carries a falling intonation.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, addressing someone by their first name (like 'Emma') at the end of a question is very common and friendly. It helps to establish a personal connection and shows that the speaker is genuinely interested in the other person's individual experience.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'because' is used to introduce a dependent adverbial clause of reason. It explains the cause or motivation behind the action in the main clause ('I joined').
I stayed home because it was raining heavily.
EN: The adverbial phrase 'so much' is used as an intensifier after a verb (like 'love') to express a high degree or intensity of a feeling or action.
Thank you so much for helping me.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'although' is used to introduce a concession clause (expressing a contrast). In English, 'although' and 'but' cannot be used in the same sentence to connect the same two clauses. Only one conjunction is needed.
Although it was raining, they went for a walk.
EN: The idiom 'have a great time' (past tense: 'had a great time') is a common expression meaning to enjoy oneself thoroughly or have fun.
We had a great time at the party last night.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, especially in sports and competitions, there is a strong emphasis on sportsmanship and the value of participation. Saying 'I had a great time' even after losing reflects a positive, healthy attitude toward competition, focusing on personal growth and enjoyment rather than just winning.
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 in the main clause.
I stayed at home because it was raining.
EN: Adverbs of frequency, such as 'always', describe how often an action occurs. They are typically placed before the main verb (except for the verb 'to be').
She always arrives on time.
EN: The conjunction 'so that' is used to express purpose or intention, meaning 'in order to' or 'with the aim that'. It is typically followed by a clause containing modal verbs like 'can', 'could', 'will', or 'would'.
She saves money so that she can buy a new laptop.
EN: The future simple tense with 'will' is used here to express a firm decision, promise, or determination made by the speaker regarding their future action.
I will study hard for the upcoming exam.
EN: The conjunction 'even though' is used to introduce a concession clause, meaning 'despite the fact that'. It is stronger than 'although' and emphasizes the contrast between the two clauses. Note that in English, we do not use 'but' in the main clause when 'even though' is used.
Even though she was tired, she finished her homework.
EN: The modal verb 'will' combined with 'not' (will not) expresses a strong determination or refusal to do something in the future.
I will not give up on my dreams.
EN: The linking verb 'stay' is used here to mean 'remain in a particular state'. It is followed by an adjective ('calm') acting as a subject complement, rather than an adverb.
Please stay quiet during the performance.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'because' is used to introduce an adverbial clause of reason, explaining the cause of the action in the main clause.
She succeeded because she practiced every day.
EN: The phrase 'try one's best' means to make the greatest effort possible. 'Best' acts as a noun here, possessed by the subject (his, my, her, etc.).
She tried her best to pass the difficult exam.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to connect two independent clauses that show contrast. A comma is typically placed before 'but' when it connects two complete sentences.
They wanted to go to the beach, but it started to rain.
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 in the main clause.
We stayed indoors because it was raining.
EN: The simple past tense (e.g., 'learned', 'worked') is used to describe completed actions that occurred at a specific time in the past.
They played soccer yesterday.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'although' is used to introduce a concession clause, showing a contrast between two ideas. In English, 'although' and 'but' cannot be used together in the same sentence to connect two clauses; only one conjunction is needed.
Although it was raining, they went for a walk.
EN: The verb 'feel' is a linking verb (copular verb) that is followed by an adjective (such as 'proud') to describe the subject's state or emotion, rather than an adverb.
She felt happy after hearing the good news.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
To stop trying to do something before you have finished, usually because it is too difficult.
To continue doing something, especially when it is difficult or you are tired.
To place oneself in new, challenging, or unfamiliar situations to grow (derived from 'step out of one's comfort zone').
Happening as the initial instance of an event or action.