很多东西曾经并不存在。
灯泡、电话、汽车、电脑、纸、拉链、冰箱、手机，都是后来被人发明出来的。发明让生活更方便，也让人类的想法变成真实的工具。英语里，When was it invented? 的意思是“它是什么时候被发明的？”
为了让课程标题更安全、更像自己的体系，这一节可以用：发明改变生活。
核心句子
English | 中文 |
When was it invented? | 它是什么时候被发明的？ |
It was invented in 1876. | 它是在 1876 年被发明的。 |
Who was it invented by? | 它是由谁发明的？ |
It was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. | 它是由亚历山大·格雷厄姆·贝尔发明的。 |
What is it used for? | 它是用来做什么的？ |
It is used for making phone calls. | 它是用来打电话的。 |
The light bulb is useful. | 电灯泡很有用。 |
The telephone changed communication. | 电话改变了交流方式。 |
Many inventions make life easier. | 很多发明让生活更容易。 |
New ideas can become inventions. | 新想法可以变成发明。 |
Inventors solve problems. | 发明家解决问题。 |
Inventions can change the world. | 发明可以改变世界。 |
1. 发明词汇
先学习一些和发明有关的基础词汇。
English | 中文 |
invent | 发明 |
invention | 发明 |
inventor | 发明家 |
discover | 发现 |
create | 创造 |
design | 设计 |
tool | 工具 |
machine | 机器 |
product | 产品 |
idea | 想法 |
problem | 问题 |
solution | 解决办法 |
useful | 有用的 |
modern | 现代的 |
simple | 简单的 |
注意：
invent 是“发明原来没有的东西”。discover 是“发现已经存在的东西”。
English | 中文 |
People invented the telephone. | 人们发明了电话。 |
People discovered electricity. | 人们发现了电。 |
2. 问“它什么时候被发明？”
想询问发明时间，可以说：
English | 中文 |
When was it invented? | 它是什么时候被发明的？ |
When was the telephone invented? | 电话是什么时候被发明的？ |
When was the light bulb invented? | 电灯泡是什么时候被发明的？ |
When was the computer invented? | 电脑是什么时候被发明的？ |
When were these tools invented? | 这些工具是什么时候被发明的？ |
结构：
English Structure | 中文意思 |
When was + singular noun + invented? | 单数物品是什么时候被发明的？ |
When were + plural noun + invented? | 复数物品是什么时候被发明的？ |
It was invented in + year. | 它是在某年被发明的。 |
They were invented in + year. | 它们是在某年被发明的。 |
例子：
English | 中文 |
When was the telephone invented? | 电话是什么时候被发明的？ |
It was invented in 1876. | 它是在 1876 年被发明的。 |
When were cars invented? | 汽车是什么时候被发明的？ |
They were invented many years ago. | 它们是很多年前被发明的。 |
3. 被动语态：was / were invented
这一课的重要语法是过去时的被动语态。
主动句：
Active | 中文 |
Bell invented the telephone. | 贝尔发明了电话。 |
被动句：
Passive | 中文 |
The telephone was invented by Bell. | 电话是由贝尔发明的。 |
结构：
English Structure | 中文意思 |
was invented | 被发明，主语是单数 |
were invented | 被发明，主语是复数 |
was / were + past participle | 过去被…… |
例子：
English | 中文 |
The telephone was invented in 1876. | 电话是在 1876 年被发明的。 |
The light bulb was invented many years ago. | 电灯泡是很多年前被发明的。 |
These machines were invented to help people. | 这些机器被发明出来帮助人们。 |
Many useful things were invented in the past. | 很多有用的东西是在过去被发明的。 |
注意：
invent 的过去分词是 invented。 被动语态里要用：be + invented。
Wrong | Correct |
The phone was invent in 1876. | The phone was invented in 1876. |
The tools were invent by people. | The tools were invented by people. |
4. 问“它是谁发明的？”
想问发明者，可以说：
English | 中文 |
Who invented it? | 谁发明了它？ |
Who was it invented by? | 它是由谁发明的？ |
Who invented the telephone? | 谁发明了电话？ |
Who was the telephone invented by? | 电话是由谁发明的？ |
结构：
English Structure | 中文意思 |
Who invented + noun? | 谁发明了……？ |
Who was + noun + invented by? | ……是由谁发明的？ |
It was invented by + person. | 它是由某人发明的。 |
They were invented by + person / people. | 它们是由某人 / 人们发明的。 |
例子：
English | 中文 |
Who invented the telephone? | 谁发明了电话？ |
Bell invented the telephone. | 贝尔发明了电话。 |
Who was the telephone invented by? | 电话是由谁发明的？ |
It was invented by Bell. | 它是由贝尔发明的。 |
注意：
初学者可以先使用更简单的主动句：
Simple Question | Answer |
Who invented it? | Bell invented it. |
再学习被动句：
Passive Question | Answer |
Who was it invented by? | It was invented by Bell. |
5. 问“它是用来做什么的？”
发明通常是为了解决问题。
English | 中文 |
What is it used for? | 它是用来做什么的？ |
What is the phone used for? | 电话是用来做什么的？ |
What is the fridge used for? | 冰箱是用来做什么的？ |
What are computers used for? | 电脑是用来做什么的？ |
结构：
English Structure | 中文意思 |
What is + noun + used for? | 某物是用来做什么的？ |
It is used for + verb-ing. | 它是用来做某事的。 |
It is used to + verb. | 它被用来做某事。 |
They are used for + verb-ing. | 它们是用来做某事的。 |
例子：
English | 中文 |
A phone is used for making calls. | 电话是用来打电话的。 |
A fridge is used for keeping food cold. | 冰箱是用来让食物保持低温的。 |
A computer is used for studying and working. | 电脑是用来学习和工作的。 |
A camera is used to take photos. | 相机是用来拍照的。 |
注意：
两个结构都可以用：
Structure | Example | 中文 |
be used for + verb-ing | It is used for taking photos. | 它是用来拍照的。 |
be used to + verb | It is used to take photos. | 它被用来拍照。 |
6. 常见发明
这些发明在日常生活中很常见。
English | 中文 |
light bulb | 电灯泡 |
telephone | 电话 |
mobile phone | 手机 |
computer | 电脑 |
car | 汽车 |
bike | 自行车 |
camera | 相机 |
fridge | 冰箱 |
washing machine | 洗衣机 |
zipper | 拉链 |
paper | 纸 |
printer | 打印机 |
例子：
English | 中文 |
The light bulb gives us light. | 电灯泡给我们光。 |
The telephone helps people communicate. | 电话帮助人们交流。 |
The fridge keeps food cold. | 冰箱让食物保持低温。 |
The washing machine helps people wash clothes. | 洗衣机帮助人们洗衣服。 |
7. 发明怎样改变生活？
发明可以让生活更方便、更快速、更安全。
English | 中文 |
Inventions make life easier. | 发明让生活更容易。 |
Inventions make work faster. | 发明让工作更快。 |
Inventions help people communicate. | 发明帮助人们交流。 |
Inventions save time. | 发明节省时间。 |
Inventions solve problems. | 发明解决问题。 |
Some inventions change the world. | 有些发明改变世界。 |
结构：
English Structure | 中文意思 |
Inventions make + noun + adjective. | 发明让……变得……。 |
Inventions help people + verb. | 发明帮助人们做某事。 |
Inventions save + noun. | 发明节省……。 |
Inventions solve + noun. | 发明解决……。 |
例子：
English | 中文 |
Cars make travel faster. | 汽车让旅行更快。 |
Phones help people talk from far away. | 电话帮助人们远距离说话。 |
Computers help students learn. | 电脑帮助学生学习。 |
Fridges help families keep food fresh. | 冰箱帮助家庭保持食物新鲜。 |
8. accidental inventions：意外的发明
有些发明不是一开始就计划好的，而是意外出现的。
English | 中文 |
accident | 意外 |
accidental | 意外的 |
by accident | 偶然 / 意外地 |
mistake | 错误 |
discover | 发现 |
create | 创造 |
result | 结果 |
例子：
English | 中文 |
Some inventions were created by accident. | 有些发明是偶然被创造出来的。 |
A mistake can lead to a new idea. | 一个错误可能带来一个新想法。 |
Some discoveries happen by accident. | 有些发现是偶然发生的。 |
结构：
English Structure | 中文意思 |
by accident | 偶然地 |
be created by accident | 被偶然创造出来 |
lead to + noun | 导致 / 带来…… |
例子：
English | 中文 |
The idea came by accident. | 这个想法是偶然出现的。 |
The mistake led to a useful invention. | 这个错误带来了一个有用的发明。 |
9. 发明家的品质
发明家通常会观察问题，然后寻找办法。
English | 中文 |
Inventors ask questions. | 发明家会提问题。 |
Inventors look for problems. | 发明家寻找问题。 |
Inventors think of solutions. | 发明家想出解决办法。 |
Inventors try many times. | 发明家尝试很多次。 |
Inventors learn from mistakes. | 发明家从错误中学习。 |
Inventors do not give up. | 发明家不放弃。 |
结构：
English Structure | 中文意思 |
look for + noun | 寻找…… |
think of + noun | 想出…… |
try many times | 尝试很多次 |
learn from mistakes | 从错误中学习 |
do not give up | 不放弃 |
例子：
English | 中文 |
An inventor sees a problem. | 发明家看到一个问题。 |
An inventor thinks of a new idea. | 发明家想出一个新想法。 |
An inventor tests the idea. | 发明家测试这个想法。 |
An inventor improves the invention. | 发明家改进这个发明。 |
10. 介绍一个发明
这一课可以做一个“发明介绍卡”。
English | 中文 |
Choose an invention. | 选择一个发明。 |
Write its name. | 写下它的名字。 |
Write when it was invented. | 写下它是什么时候被发明的。 |
Write who invented it. | 写下谁发明了它。 |
Write what it is used for. | 写下它是用来做什么的。 |
Write why it is useful. | 写下它为什么有用。 |
发明介绍卡模板：
English | 中文 |
Invention: Telephone | 发明：电话 |
It was invented in 1876. | 它是在 1876 年被发明的。 |
It was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. | 它是由亚历山大·格雷厄姆·贝尔发明的。 |
It is used for making phone calls. | 它是用来打电话的。 |
It helps people communicate. | 它帮助人们交流。 |
It changed people’s lives. | 它改变了人们的生活。 |
简单模板：
English | 中文 |
Invention: _____ | 发明：_____ |
It was invented in _____. | 它是在_____年被发明的。 |
It was invented by _____. | 它是由_____发明的。 |
It is used for _____. | 它是用来_____的。 |
It is useful because _____. | 它有用，因为_____。 |
重点结构
English Structure | 中文意思 |
When was it invented? | 它是什么时候被发明的？ |
It was invented in 1876. | 它是在 1876 年被发明的。 |
Who was it invented by? | 它是由谁发明的？ |
It was invented by Bell. | 它是由贝尔发明的。 |
What is it used for? | 它是用来做什么的？ |
It is used for making calls. | 它是用来打电话的。 |
It is used to take photos. | 它被用来拍照。 |
Inventions make life easier. | 发明让生活更容易。 |
Inventors solve problems. | 发明家解决问题。 |
New ideas can become inventions. | 新想法可以变成发明。 |
小对话
English | 中文 |
A: What is this? | A：这是什么？ |
B: It is a telephone. | B：它是一部电话。 |
A: When was it invented? | A：它是什么时候被发明的？ |
B: It was invented in 1876. | B：它是在 1876 年被发明的。 |
A: Who was it invented by? | A：它是由谁发明的？ |
B: It was invented by Bell. | B：它是由贝尔发明的。 |
A: What is it used for? | A：它是用来做什么的？ |
B: It is used for making phone calls. | B：它是用来打电话的。 |
开口练习
请大声读下面的句子。
English | 中文 |
When was it invented? | 它是什么时候被发明的？ |
It was invented in 1876. | 它是在 1876 年被发明的。 |
Who was it invented by? | 它是由谁发明的？ |
It was invented by Bell. | 它是由贝尔发明的。 |
What is it used for? | 它是用来做什么的？ |
It is used for making calls. | 它是用来打电话的。 |
Inventions make life easier. | 发明让生活更容易。 |
Inventors solve problems. | 发明家解决问题。 |
现在用你自己的情况练习：
English | 中文 |
The _____ was invented in _____. | _____是在_____年被发明的。 |
It was invented by _____. | 它是由_____发明的。 |
It is used for _____. | 它是用来_____的。 |
It is used to _____. | 它被用来_____。 |
This invention helps people _____. | 这个发明帮助人们_____。 |
It is useful because _____. | 它有用，因为_____。 |
I think this invention is _____. | 我认为这个发明很_____。 |
本节小结
在这一节，你学会了如何用英语谈论发明、时间、发明者和用途。
你现在应该能说：
English | 中文 |
When was it invented? | 它是什么时候被发明的？ |
It was invented in 1876. | 它是在 1876 年被发明的。 |
Who was it invented by? | 它是由谁发明的？ |
What is it used for? | 它是用来做什么的？ |
It is used for making phone calls. | 它是用来打电话的。 |
Inventions make life easier. | 发明让生活更容易。 |
发明不是从天上掉下来的答案。
它常常从一个小问题、一点好奇心、一次失败和一次再试开始。学会这些句子后，你就可以用英语介绍一个发明，也能说明它怎样改变生活。