Until death do us part

Qu Yuan (Qu1 Yuan3) (Ancient state of Chu)

He was the number one advisor of the Kingdom of Chu.

He dedicated his whole life to assisting the king to build the State of Chu stronger.

dedicate (verb) – devote time or effort to a particular task or purpose.
dedication (noun) – the quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose.

(one of the seven warring states: Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, and Qin)

He advised the King to ally with the State of Qi to fight against the most powerful State of Qin. However, he was slandered by jealous officials and accused of treason, and the King dismissed and exiled him.

slander [诋毁 di2 hui3] (v) – make false and damaging statements about (someone)

The king decided to ally with the increasingly powerful state of Qin, Qu was banished for opposing the alliance and even accused of treason

During his exile, Qu Yuan wrote a great deal of enduring poems showing his love and passion for his country, some of which are still very famous in China.

In 278 BC, the Qin State conquered the capital of Chu. On hearing of the defeat, on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, Qu Yuan in great despair committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River (a branch of Yangtze River) as a gesture of dying along with his motherland.

The rest is legend… When they heard of Qu Yuan’s death, the local people were very sad, and rowed out on the river to search for his body, but were unable to find him. To preserve his body, the locals paddled their boats up and down the river, hitting the water with their paddles and beating drums to scare evil spirits away. They threw lumps of rice into the river to feed the fish, so that they would not eat Qu Yuan’s body.

The sentence itself is a subordinate clauses (also known as dependent clause).

Until – subordinate conjunction
+
death (subject) do (transitive verb) us (direct object) part (noun, object complement)

The phrase itself means lifelong commitment or dedication.

It is used usually between romantic partners in the Middle Ages. Christians believe that marriage is considered the ideal purpose of God, and that at the heart of God’s design for marriage is companionship and intimacy.

commit (verb) – pledge or bind (a person or an organization) to a certain course/situation.
commitment (noun) – to commit

Difference between commit and dedicate?

Being dedicated to something implies a certain level of passion and enthusiasm (热情 re qing), while being committed implies a sense of duty (责任感） and responsibility.

stoic (adj) 坚忍的 jian ren de – not showing or not feeling any emotion

But why? Fruit of our loins; Offspring

matrimony (婚姻 hun ying) – the state or ceremony of being married; marriage
holy – divine 神圣的 (shen sheng de)

Holy Matrimony (神圣的婚姻) – marriage blessed by divine being.

In the old Christian times when “until death do us part” is used, divorce isn’t approved or recognized.

Death is the only option for getting out of the marital contract.

But not everyone takes it literally.

Most people like the passionate, romantic feeling it promotes because it shows their undying love for their partner.

Marriage was binding women to men, and guaranteeing that his children were his biological heirs.

If wives fail to produce offsprings, the husband would give the wife back and marry someone else.

Business – produce heirs to pass down property and money

People create stronger families and ties by marriage. It has never been about love.

Stronger families protect resources, money, and create power.

Normally, a lot of people want to pass down their hard work and accomplishments. They do this by passing their money, property, and land onto their offspring.

As role models for successful child-raising

The couple is the pillar of a family.

pillar (n) – a tall vertical structure of stone, wood, or metal, used as a support for a building, or as an ornament or monument.

They split tasks – wife keeps home, husband works to own home.

They are the temple in which their offspring can safely grow and flourish.

For most inmates and criminals, there is a direct correlation between child neglect/abuse and crime.

“Get better grades” do not work

When a couple stays together, work through their problems, and positively interact with their kids, it has been shown that the kids become exponentially better. They learn from role models much much better than said parent telling them over and over to “get better grades”.

Hold death close, for it tells us what’s important and what’s not

Let’s say you die in three days? What will you do in those three days?

If you were to die, who would you say goodbye to? Who would you thank? Who would you see?

Waking up tomorrow – The million dollar question

1) If I gave you a million dollars how would you feel? How would you feel this week? this month? this year?

2) If i gave the million dollars but you can’t wake up tomorrow?

People will say no way!! –> We value our life more than the million dollars

3) Therefore, if we value our life more than the money, and we’re so hyped up about the money, then why aren’t we hyped up when we wake up everyday?

Families are the basic building blocks of a country

ref – https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/misplaced_modifier.htm

A misplaced modifier is a word (or group of words) that does not link clearly to what it is intended to modify. A misplaced modifier makes the meaning of a sentence ambiguous or wrong.

Misplaced Modifier (default)

Coax the monkey with a banana.

Are we trying to coax the money holding the banana?
Or are we trying to coax the money by using a banana?

Correction: Let’s use a banana to coax the monkey.

We will not sell paraffin to anyone in glass bottles. (X)

(Often, common sense tells us what the writer meant. Clearly, this is about paraffin in glass bottles not people in glass bottles. However, placing your modifier too far away from the thing being modified will do little to showcase your writing skills.)

Correction: We will not sell paraffin in glass bottles to anyone.

Andrew said after the holiday he intends to stop drinking. (X)

(Here, it is unclear whether Andrew made this statement after the holiday or whether he intends to stop drinking after the holiday.)

Correction: After the holiday, Andrew said that he intends to stop drinking. √
Or
Andrew claims that he will stop smoking after the holidays.

Meticulous and punctual, her work ethic is admirable. (X)
(Here, the modifier does not apply to anything in the sentence.)

Talking quickly annoys people. (X)

Does talking annoy people?
Or fast talking annoy people?

Let’s go with fast talking annoys people:

Talking quickly is a sure way to annoy people. √

Squinting Modifiers

Dangling Modifiers

Sentence Types

1. Which of the following is a simple sentence?

A) Although she was tired, she finished her homework. (complex sentence)
B) She finished her homework and went to bed. (compound predicate, simple sentence)
C) The teacher arrived, and the students opened their books. (compound sentence)
D) He ran quickly. √

2. What type of sentence is this: “She loves to read, and she visits the library often”?
A) Simple
B) Compound √ (two simple sentences combined by a comma and conjunction ‘and’)
C) Complex
D) Compound-complex

3. Identify the type of the following sentence: “Because the rain was heavy, the event was postponed.”

A) Simple
B) Compound

C) Complex –
Dependent Clause – Subordinate Conjunction ‘Because’ (1 dependent). ** ‘But’ is a coordinate conjunction
Independent clause – the event was postponed (1 independent)

D) Compound-complex

4. Which sentence is a compound-complex sentence?

A) She cried because it was raining, and she couldn’t go to the park.

Compound (2 simple) – She cried. She couldn’t go to the park.
Complex – Because it was raining (subordinate)

B) After the rain stopped, she went outside to play.
C) The dog barked loudly.
D) He likes to swim and to play basketball.

5. Choose the compound sentence from the options below.

A) When he finished his homework, he went to sleep. (has subordinate conjunction ‘When’)

B) She was hungry, so she made a sandwich. √ (two simple sentences combined with a comma and conjunction ‘s’)

C) Although it was late, they decided to go out. (has subordinate conjunction ‘Although’)
D) He studied hard but still failed the test. (simple sentence with predicate)

6. What makes a sentence complex?

A) It has two independent clauses.
B) It contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. √
C) It has three or more independent clauses.
D) It combines elements of compound and complex sentences.

7. Identify the sentence type: “Although he was nervous, he spoke clearly and confidently during his presentation.”

A) Simple
B) Compound

C) Complex √
Dependent clause – Although he was nervous
Independent clause –
Subject – He
predicate – [spoke (v)
clearly and confidently (compound adv)
during his presentation (adverbial)
]

D) Compound-complex

The answer key says its D. But this wrong because in order for it to be compound complex, we need 1 dependent, 2 independent:

Dependent clause – “Although he was nervous”

“spoke clearly and confidently during his presentation” is a SIMPLE PREDICATE where:

spoke – verb
clearly and confidently – compound adverb
during his presentation – adverbial

As defined in grammarly’s simple sentence a simple sentence can indeed contain a compound predicate.

This is a simple sentence with a compound predicate:
The cat [cheated and caught the mouse].

8. Which of the following is a simple sentence?

A) He laughed loudly when he saw the puppy. (1 indep, 1 dependent subordinate conjunction “when”)
B) She likes coffee, but she doesn’t drink it often. (X, this is a compound sentence)
C) The car stopped. (√ nice and simple)
D) Before we go out, we should check the weather. (X, this is complex sentence)

Participles Practice

1)

A) No present participle
B) swimming pool is a compound noun

C) crying can be used as a present participle.
For example, She is crying at the park.
Here its used as an adjective to modify ‘baby’. √

D) running is used as a main verb here

2)

A) broken. Broken is used as a past participle. For example, I have broken the oath.
Here, it is used as an adjective. √
B) X used as a verb
C) X used as a verb
D) no past participle

3)

A) √ present participle: The are barking at us. Barking modifies ‘dogs’.
B) used as main verb
C) no present participle
D) past participle

4)

A)

5) C

A) used as main verb

B) running can be used as present participle.

C) We cannot use “amazing” in present participle. i.e She is amazing the crowd. X
D) used as main verb

6)

A) used as verb
B) √ bake baked baked. Used in front of noun cookies.
C) Used as main verb in present perfect
D) no past participle

7)

A) Laughing is a present participle. But loudly is not a noun.

B) √

* present participle? They are laughing at us. (yes)
modify a noun? “laughing crowd” A crowd that is laughing (yes)

C) used as main verb

D) used as main verb in future tense.

8)

A) √

past participle – write wrote written. √
modifying a noun – “written exam” An exam that needs to be written. √

B) Used as main verb
C) no past participle
D) no past participle

Gerunds/Infinitives

1) C

2)

A) Subject
B) verb
C) √ infinitive as object
D) prepositional as object complement

3)

A) no gerund
B) win + ing = winning
C) no gerund
D) no gerund

4)

A) no infinitive
B) no infinitive
C) ‘to eat’ is an infinitive
D) no infinitive

5)
She (subj)
mentioned (verb)
go-ing (gerund, direct object) –> (B)
to the store (prepositional object complement)

6) A

7)
A) ‘without’ is a preposition
B) no gerund
C) no gerund
D) no gerund

8)

A) no gerund
B) Eating is eat + ing
C) no gerund
D) no gerund

Transitive/Intransitive Verbs

a verb is transitive IF it has a direct object.
Any other situation, it is intransitive

1.

A) She (s) laughed (intransitive verb) loudly (adv). // adverb after the verb

B) √

He (subj) carried (transitive verb) the bag (direct object).

C) They(subj) sleep (intransitive verb) early (adj). // adjective after the verb, so verb is intransitive.

D) Birds(s) fly(intransitive verb). // no direct object

2.

She (subj)
completed (transitive verb) (A)
the assignment (direct object)
before dinner. (adverb phrase)

3. B

4. B

The cat (s)
sleeps (v)
on (preposition)
the sofa (obj)

Because ‘on’ is a preposition, then sleep is intransitive.

5. C

6. A

7. B

8.

A) Please bring paper.
B) I throw the ball.
C) I laugh him (X) I laugh [at] him. √ This is intransitive
D) I eat dirt.

Complements/Direct Objects

1. C The flowers(s) smell (v) fragrant (subj compl)
Subject Complements can be noun or adjective.

The noun is called predicate nominative.
The adjective is called predicate adjective.

2. C
3. D
4. D
5. C
6. C
7. B
8. C
9. C
10. D
She (s) left (v) the keys (obj) on[pre] the table [obj of prep]

11.

Direct object test:

* find verb (taught)
* ask what (taught what? –> new concept)

C

12. D

The book (s) was (lv) interesting (subj compl, adj).
The sky (s) seems (lv) blue (subj compl, adj).
My favorite color (s) is (lv) blue (subj compl, adj).
She (s) remains (v) a close friend ().

13. B

She sent her parents a postcard from Italy.

Indirect object test:

* find verb (sent)
* for whom (sent to whom? –> the parents)

14. C

The jury (s) found(transitive verb) the defendant(direct obj) guilty (obj compl).

Clauses and Phrases

1. C
2. A
3. A i.e We will have dinner [before the movie(s) starts (v)]
4. A adjectival phrase – (an old red sedan)
5. D
6. A

7. A
Starts with relative pronoun What/When/Where/Why/How..etc
What (relative pronoun) she said was surprising.

8. C
9. C

Verb Phrase is a phrase that has a main verb and any other helping verbs
https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/verb_phrase.htm

Let’s see how ‘to have’ is used as auxiliary verb for verb phrases:

We [were (to have) landed] here hours ago!

were = auxiliary verb
to have = auxiliary verb
landed = main verb

They [had (to have) seen] it!

had = auxiliary verb
to have = auxiliary verb
seen = main verb

To have, to be, to do are all auxiliary verbs.

But [to win] is not an auxiliary verb, so:

to win the game is an adverbial phrase that describes the “WHY” for the sentence.

10. A
11. B
12. A The flowers [in the garden]
13. C

14. A

Which sentence contains a participial phrase?

A) √ Participial Phrase means it uses a present or past participle. So sleeping is it.
B) no participle
C) no participle
D) no participle

15. A

Pay attention to the word “noun clause”. Clause means to have a subj and a verb.
noun clause = “that she is coming”. Remember that noun clause starts with relative noun.

16. B

* Clause means to have a subj and a verb.
* Adverbial clause is a dependent clause.

So,

A) X
B) √ Dependent clause means it uses subordinate term “Before”, which gives more information about the time.

Before he leaves the house, i.e [he takes a dump].

C) X
D) X

Appositive

noun or noun phrase that sits next to another noun to renames it, provides additional information.

– essential (restrictive) – no commas
– non-essential (non-restrictive) – comma

1) C
2) B
3) A
4) A

5)
A) This is actually wrong. Because non-essential means information that is not necessary.
B) √ The non-essential here is ‘which is very deep’. It just adds extra info about the lake.
C) X Describes the lake’s attribute as deep. Does not tell us which lake.
D) X Deep is not a condition that freezes.

6) B
7) D

A) an inventor here is required because we can’t just do “Thomas Edison developed many devices”.
B) no comma
C) no comma
D) “A tool for communication” is just a bonus. We do not need it in order to understand that the smartphones are found everywhere.

8) A
9) B
10) B
11) A
12) B
13) B
14) A

Misplaced Modifiers

How to write a simile

Her eyes are like stars.
When I look at her, they glisten and shine.
I could see my reflection in them, and read her mind.

You wrote the simile, then described it with two adjectives.
In order to satisfy the rthym scheme of the poem, just substitute for another word.

Her eyes are like stars. (A)
They glisten and shine. (B)
I am so glad she is mine. (B)

这个就是用了 simile 去满足 ABB 韵律 的 诗 √

Sample poem with 2 similes

If your teacher wants you to:

Write 3 stanzas of 3 lines poem with two similes:

ABB CDD EFF

Her eyes are like stars. (A) simile
They glisten and shine. (B)
I am so glad she is mine. (B)

Our love is sweet as sugar. (C) simile
My parents think its funny. (D)
She will always be my honey. (D)

Say what you will. (E)
But I’m forced to say she completes my life. (F)
For she’s standing besides me holding a knife. (F)

Sample poem with 2 metaphors and 1 simile

How to write a metaphor

Example:

Write a poem with ABAB CDCD with 2 metaphors and simile

simile
metaphor

The sun is a toddler that refuses to sleep. A
It likes to crawl from east to west. B
And floats in the sky like a lost sheep. A
To life on earth, it is the best. B

It is an oven that generates heat. C
That keeps everyone fed and warm. D
It grows food for animals to eat. C
And generates life during its biggest form. D

How to write a alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in successive words.

Alliteration is used for emphasis or to make a sentence more pleasing to the ear. It is used in everyday language, poetry, literature, and business writing.

The plate was filled with beautiful buns bursting with berries.

He’s going to gut the golden goose.

It can also be just two words:

Nothing says home like the smell of the sea.
Finishing first requires just three things: practice, practice, and practice.

Let’s add it back to our original poem example:

Her eyes are like stars. (A) simile
They glisten and shine. (B)
I am so glad she is mine. (B)

Our love is sweet as sugar. (C) simile

My [f]unky [f]riends [f]eel it’s [f]erociously [f]unny. (D) <-- + alliteration

That she will always be my honey. (D)

Say what you will. (E)

But I’m forced to [s]ay [s]he [s]aved my [s]landering life. (F) <-- + alliteration

For she’s standing besides me holding a big sharp knife. (F)

Personification

Inanimate objects are given human characteristics.

The leaves danced their way through the lawn.

The sun smiled over the meadow.

The table stood firmly against the wind.

The moon watched over the pack of wolves.

personification

The wind carried her whispers into my ears. A
The words landed softly and calmed my fears. A
A smile spread across my face. B
As I sat in front of the fireplace. B

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement. It overstates a situation for emotional effect.

• She wept an ocean of tears.
• I died laughing.
• I tried a million times.
• Her smile was a mile wide.
• I’m so hungry I could eat a cow.

Let’s make a 4 line stanza with ABBA rhyme scheme:

Her eyes are the prize. (A)
They glisten and shine. (B)
I danced to a thousand tunes because she is mine. (B)
Our love fills the empty vast skies. (A)

Main Event:

The challenge of using newer technology has led to a loss in human interaction, and this has made future learning dull, insipid, and unsuccessful.

Indirect Characterization 1:

The mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography, and she had been doing worse and worse until her mother had shaken her head sorrowfully and sent for the county inspector.

The author indirectly describes how bad Margie is doing in her geography.
Margie’s frustration in learning was quite pronounced, but the robotic teacher could not visually judge Margie’s predicament, thus produces test after test like a printer. A human teacher, on the other hand, can easily identify troubled students based on their demeanor, and act accordingly.

Student behavior can often give cues on how they handle the course material. Those who cannot finish exercises and struggle with the concepts will reveal more frustrated facial expressions. These hallmark human feedback can be easily picked up by human teachers. However, that is simply not the case with robotic teachers that Margie has to deal with.

Indirect Characterization 2:

I think the geography sector was geared a little too quick. Those things happen sometimes. I’ve slowed it up to an average ten-year level.

This indirect characterization describes how the mechanical teacher fails to teach Margie what she really needs for her age. But in order to make Margie happy and dumb down her education, the inspector has to gear the difficulty level back for ten year olds. This strongly shows how robots are not as intuitive and effective as human teachers.

Indirect Characterization 3:

Margie did so with a sigh. She was thinking about the old schools they had when her grandfather’s grandfather was a little boy. They learned the same things so they could help one another on the homework and talk about it.

The author indirectly characterizes Margie’s feelings about her grandfather’s past. How the children worked together in teams and had human interactions. Since the class material was all the same, they collaborate to finish their school tasks. But most improtantly, there are human elements of social interaction. Not only did they solve their homework, but they learned, and had fun doing it.

What is the theme for “The fun they had” (RACE method)

Read, Answer, Cite, and Explain

In a traditional classroom, the teacher can easily identify troubled students. Their behavior often shows that they cannot finishe exercises, and their struggle with explaining back to the teacher. The students’ frustrated facial expressions reveal their lack of progress. These hallmark visual response are often flags that only human teachers can identify.

On the other hand, a mechanical robot simply cannot read a student’s body language. This is indirectly described when Margie’s mechanical teacher keeps printing tests even though she hates the subject and has not been doing well. “The mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography, and she had been doing worse and worse”. In addition, there is no way for the robot to detect and judge emotional speech. There is no flexibility when it comes to using technology to evaluate the student. At most, the robot can communicate using text, and this form of communication is often counterproductive. Therefore, as far as identifying and helping students, the traditional human teadcher led classroom holds the advantage.

ref – https://www.englishclub.com/efl/articles/vocabulary/8-ways-to-use-the-preposition-by/

“by” + place

The meaning is: beside, at the side of, next to, close to

examples:

• The house (s) is (v) by a river.
• David (s) lives (v) by a train station.
• I(s) want (v) to live (infinitive-obj) [in a house by the sea] (adjective phrase).

“by” + method of transport

This structure describes how you travel somewhere.

by + train/car/boat/plane/taxi/bus/coach

examples:

• David(s) went(v) [to] Manchester by train (adverbial).
• I (s) go(v) [to] work (by car) (adverbial).
• My parents (s) go (v) [to] France (by boat) (adverbial).
• Our children (s) travelled (v) by plane.

“by” + method of communication

This structure describes how you communicate with someone.

by + telephone/post/email/fax

examples:

• I (s) spoke (v) [to] her (obj) (by telephone) (adverbial).
• I (s) will send(v) you (obj) the invoice (obj compl) (by post)(adverbial).
• They (s) confirm (v) the order (obj) (by email) (adverbial).

“by” + reflexive pronoun

by + myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves

This structure means to do something alone.

examples:

• I(s) enjoy(v) reading(obj) (by myself) (adverbial).
• Sarah (s) is (v) studying (obj) (by herself) (adverbial).
• Let’s (s) do (v) something (obj) (by ourselves) (adverbial).
• My parents (s) go (v) on holiday (obj) (by themselves) adverbial.

及物动词

I feed the animals.

The woman cuddles the child.

The child embraces the toy.

The doctor obliterates the bacteria.

Our team dominates the competition.

The student buries the pet.

The butcher slaughters the pig.

The government reduces the budget.

The tester eliminates bug.

The child tricks his mother.

The officer holds a different view.

The kid wraps the plastic toy.

The worker molds the part.

A husband praises his wife.

A person wrestles the robber.

不及物动词

A boy dances with a girl.

The plane flies in the sky.

The crocodile crawls on the riverside.

The worker escapes from the fire.

The bomb explodes in the room.

The dog gallops across the square.

The criminal kneels on the ground.

The man leans on the wall.

The girl listens to music.

A cat pounces at the rate.

She relaxes at the beach.

A boy rolls on the grassland.

The man runs across the playground.

The cat screams at me.

A boy rushes to toilet.

A turtle lives in a forest.
He swims in the lagoons.
He devours apples.

The birds chirp.
They land on a tree branch.
The turtle listens to their songs.
He rolls around in the mud.

The sun sets behind the hills.
They go home.

fitfully (adj) – irregular intervals
• The wind howled fitfully.
• The sporadic raindrops fell fitfully.
• The drunk driver swerved along the road fitfully.

guesswork (noun) – process of guessing
• The way we learn english in China is pure guesswork.
• We use guesswork to find our candidates.
• America has been using guesswork to find its spies.

distaste (noun) – mild dislike
• I regard my mother with distaste.
• They eye me up and down with distaste.
• There is a certain amount of distaste in her voice

succumb (verb) – failed to resist pressure; to accept defeat.
• The soldiers succumbed to their injuries.
• After so many deaths, we succumbed.
• The Titanic succumbed to the freezing ocean.

procure (verb) – obtain something carefully and with much effort.
• I managed to procure the secret from her.
• We managed to procure some edible food from the dumpster.
• Have you procured the documents?

actuate (verb) – cause to take action; motivate; put into motion.
• My dislike for America was actuated by political zealots.
• A high performing athlete is actuated by good warmups.
• The sudden heavy rain actuates the crowd to disperse.

shirk (verb) – neglect a duty.
• The massage therapist shirked when she saw her client.
• I shirked the cleanup because the environment was too dangerous.
• She shirks her agreement because he was just too creepy.

incongruous (adj) – out of harmony with its surrounding; out of place
• I felt incongruous on my first day in an American school.
• The bottles of soda looked incongruous sitting there on the gym floor.
• My black girlfriend and I were incongruous in American’s dating scene.

convolute (verb) – make something difficult to follow.
• The US government convolutes her people’s wishes.
• The remnants of the crash convolutes the investigation.
• Their selfish ways convolute our team work.

innumerable (adj) – too many to count
• They are indifferent to the innumerable sufferings of children.
• The amount of problems that Andy has is innumerable.
• The innumerable army surges forward.

pugnacious (adj) – eager to argue/fight
• Those brats are pugancious.
• The most pugnacious countries in the world has the most insecure citizens.
• When I’m hungry, I become pugancious.

sordid (adj) – involving immoral actions and motives
• I ignore their sordid explanations.
• The overcrowded slums are sordid.
• The sordid affairs of Israel’s president should be investigated.

eccentric (adj) – odd; unconventional
• You have very eccentric behavior.
• The girl behind the tree is eccentric.
• The eccentric teacher takes a nap.

sanguine (adj) – optimistic in the face of a bad situation.
• I am sanguine about my test scores.
• I have a sanguine view on the Palestine-Israel conflict.
• Young people always have sanguine opinions on love.

separate(v)分离

They separate.
We are separate.
Ok! {Separate} can be used as a verb or an adjective.

mavelled (v) 感到惊奇

Watch your spelling.
marvelled (v) 感到惊奇

They marvelled.
Ok!

outage (n) 停电期间
It is outage.

There is a power outage!
We have an outage! I can’t see!