Jane Goodall: The Voice of the Chimps
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EN: The verb 'observe' is a verb of perception. When followed by an object and a present participle (V-ing), it describes an action in progress that the subject witnessed.
I observed the birds building their nest in the tree.
EN: The past perfect tense (had + past participle) is used here within a relative clause to indicate that the naming of the chimpanzee happened before the observation took place.
He lost the watch that his father had given him.
EN: Jane Goodall's decision to name the chimpanzees (like David Greybeard) instead of numbering them was a major shift in primatology. It acknowledged their individual identities and emotional lives, which was initially seen as unscientific by the academic community.
EN: The conjunction 'because' is used to introduce a subordinate clause that provides the reason or cause for the main action or state.
He stayed home because it was raining heavily.
EN: The past simple tense 'believed' is used here to describe a state or opinion that existed in the past, often implying that the belief has since changed.
People once believed that the Earth was flat.
EN: In the mid-20th century, tool-making was considered the defining characteristic of 'Man the Toolmaker.' Jane Goodall's discovery forced the scientific community to redefine humanity or redefine tools.
EN: The sentence uses the Past Simple tense ('challenged') to describe a completed action in the past that had a specific impact. It follows the Subject + Verb + Object structure.
The new evidence changed the course of the investigation.
EN: The preposition 'about' is used here to introduce the subject matter or topic of the 'scientific beliefs'. It functions as a modifier for the noun phrase.
We had a long discussion about environmental protection.
EN: In the mid-20th century, Western science strictly defined humans as the only tool-makers. Jane Goodall's discovery was culturally and scientifically shocking because it blurred the line between 'man' and 'beast,' which was a fundamental pillar of human identity at the time.
EN: The use of 'what' as a relative pronoun in a nominal clause. Here, 'what makes us human' acts as the object of the preposition 'of', functioning as a noun phrase to describe a concept.
I don't understand what makes him so angry.
EN: Parallel structure with 'and'. The conjunction 'and' connects two noun phrases: 'the definition of what makes us human' and 'our place in the world', ensuring both parts of the sentence have equal grammatical weight.
The book explores the history of art and its impact on society.
EN: This sentence refers to Jane Goodall's 1960 discovery that chimpanzees make and use tools. At the time, tool-making was considered the defining characteristic that separated humans from all other animals. Her work forced the scientific community to reconsider the biological and philosophical boundaries between species.
EN: The use of 'something' as a noun phrase in apposition. Here, 'something' acts as a summary word that refers back to the entire preceding clause ('Jane gave each chimpanzee a name and carefully described their individual personalities').
He decided to quit his job and travel the world, something his parents found very brave.
EN: The structure 'criticize A as B'. This pattern is used to express the specific reason or category for which someone or something is being criticized.
The critics criticized the new movie as being too long and boring.
EN: In the mid-20th century, the scientific community was strictly objective. Giving animals names and attributing 'personalities' to them was seen as anthropomorphism—projecting human traits onto non-humans—which was considered a major taboo in rigorous scientific research. Jane Goodall's persistence eventually changed how we define animal intelligence.
EN: The verb 'introduce' follows the pattern 'introduce A to B', where A is the person/thing being presented and B is the recipient of the introduction.
The teacher introduced the new student to the class.
EN: Appositives are nouns or noun phrases that follow another noun to rename or provide more information about it. Here, 'the loving mother' describes 'Flo'.
My brother, a talented musician, plays the piano every day.
EN: In the scientific community of the 1960s, giving animals names instead of numbers was considered unprofessional and biased. Jane Goodall's choice to name her subjects humanized them and changed how the public perceived animal intelligence and personality.
EN: Prepositional Phrase as an Adverbial: The phrase 'Through her detailed observations' acts as an adverbial of manner, explaining how the action (proved) was achieved. Placing it at the beginning of the sentence adds emphasis to the method.
Through hard work, he achieved his goals.
EN: Noun Clauses with 'that': The word 'that' introduces a noun clause (that animals have...) which functions as the direct object of the transitive verb 'proved'.
Scientists proved that the earth is round.
EN: Jane Goodall's research was revolutionary because, in the mid-20th century, the scientific community strictly avoided attributing human-like traits (anthropomorphism) to animals. Her work bridged the gap between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom.
EN: The correlative conjunction 'not just... but...' (similar to 'not only... but also...') is used to connect two contrasting or supplementary ideas, emphasizing that the second part is also true and often more significant.
He is not just a teacher, but a mentor to all his students.
EN: The word 'that' functions here as a complementizer to introduce a noun clause. This clause acts as the direct object of the verb 'showed', explaining exactly what was shown to the world.
The research showed that regular exercise improves mental health.
EN: In the mid-20th century, the scientific community strictly avoided attributing human-like traits (anthropomorphism) to animals. Jane Goodall's decision to give chimpanzees names and describe their personalities was a radical departure from traditional scientific methods, which typically used numbers to identify subjects.
EN: Present Participle Phrase (V-ing) as a Result: The phrases 'making...' and 'bringing...' are participle phrases that function as an adverbial clause of result. They describe the consequence or outcome of the main action (publishing the work).
The heavy rain lasted for hours, causing severe flooding in the city.
EN: Compound Object with Parallel Structure: The sentence uses two present participle phrases connected by 'and' to show two simultaneous results of the same action.
He worked hard all year, earning a promotion and gaining his boss's respect.
EN: National Geographic is a world-renowned magazine and organization known for its high-quality photography and scientific reporting. 'Bringing into people's homes' is a metaphor meaning that through the magazine's widespread reach, the general public became familiar with a topic that was previously obscure.
EN: Appositive Phrase: The phrase 'one of the few people...' acts as an appositive, providing extra information about the subject's unique status or clarifying the significance of the preceding clause.
He is a brilliant pianist, one of the best in the country.
EN: Gerund after Preposition: The word 'obtaining' is a gerund (verb + -ing acting as a noun) because it follows the preposition 'without'.
You cannot succeed without working hard.
EN: In the UK academic system, it is extremely rare to be admitted to a PhD program without a bachelor's degree. This usually only happens for individuals with exceptional field experience or groundbreaking research, highlighting Jane Goodall's unique contribution to science.
EN: The sentence uses the Past Simple tense ('demonstrated') to describe a completed action in the past. It follows the Subject + Verb + Object structure, where the object is a compound noun phrase consisting of two qualities connected by 'and'.
His hard work proved his commitment to the project.
EN: The preposition 'to' is used here to show the direction of 'dedication'. In English, certain abstract nouns like 'dedication', 'commitment', or 'contribution' are followed by the preposition 'to' to indicate the target or field of that effort.
She showed great dedication to her studies.
EN: In academic and professional contexts, 'dedication to one's field' is a high compliment, suggesting that a person's work is not just a job, but a lifelong commitment or calling.
EN: Compound Predicate: This sentence uses two verbs ('spans' and 'continues') connected by the conjunction 'and' to describe actions performed by the same subject ('research'). Both verbs must agree with the singular subject.
The project starts in May and ends in December.
EN: The verb 'continue' followed by an infinitive (to + verb): This structure is used to indicate that an action or state keeps happening without stopping.
The team continues to work hard despite the setbacks.
EN: Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania is the site where Jane Goodall began her landmark study of chimpanzees in 1960. Her work there is considered the longest-running study of any animal group in the wild.
EN: The sentence starts with an Adjective Phrase ('Now over 90 years old') that functions as a reduced relative clause, providing additional information about the subject 'Jane'.
Exhausted from the long flight, the traveler fell asleep immediately.
EN: The Present Participle Phrase ('traveling 300 days a year...') acts as a modifier describing an ongoing action or a simultaneous state of the subject.
He spent the afternoon in the park, reading a book under a tree.
EN: Jane Goodall is a global icon of environmentalism. The mention of her traveling 300 days a year at age 90+ emphasizes the urgency of conservation efforts and her extraordinary personal commitment, which is highly respected in Western scientific and activist communities.
EN: The 'to-infinitive' (to + base verb) is used here as an adverbial of purpose, explaining 'why' she founded the institute.
He saved money to buy a new car.
EN: The past simple tense ('founded') is used to describe a completed action that occurred at a specific time in the past.
The company was founded in 1990.
EN: The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) is a global community conservation organization. It is famous for continuing the work Jane Goodall started in Gombe, emphasizing that local people are central to conservation success.
EN: Appositives: A noun or noun phrase (a youth program) placed next to another noun (Roots & Shoots) to identify or explain it. It provides additional information without needing a full sentence.
Mr. Smith, my favorite teacher, is retiring next month.
EN: Relative Clauses with 'that': A dependent clause starting with 'that' (that empowers young people...) used to define or provide essential information about the preceding noun (program).
I read a book that changed my perspective on life.
EN: Roots & Shoots is a global program founded by Jane Goodall in 1991. The name symbolizes that roots create a firm foundation and shoots seem small but can break through walls to reach the light, representing the power of youth to change the world.
EN: The preposition 'Despite' is used to introduce a contrast. It is followed by a noun phrase (the challenges), not a full clause with a subject and verb.
Despite the heavy rain, the football match continued.
EN: The present perfect tense (has seen) is used here to describe an experience that happened at an unspecified time in the past and has relevance to the present.
He has seen that movie three times already.
EN: Jane Goodall is known for her radical optimism. Despite witnessing environmental destruction and animal cruelty, she emphasizes 'reasons for hope,' which has become a central theme of her global activism.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
To search for or try to catch something (literally or figuratively).
To have a strong effect on someone or something.
To extend across a specific period of time or distance.
To question or doubt the truth or validity of existing ideas.
Individuals (animals or humans) that are being observed or experimented upon in a study.
A particular branch of study or sphere of professional activity.