Past Actions, Present Results

本週重點

Overview

💬 English Goal

英文目標

Use the simple past tense to talk about yesterday, and master three key irregular verbs: sleep → slept, eat → ate, go → went. Learn the words intentional, result, cause.

用簡單過去式（simple past tense）來談昨天發生的事，並學會三個重要的不規則動詞：sleep → slept（睡覺）、eat → ate（吃）、go → went（去）。學習這些單字：intentional（有意圖的）、result（結果）、cause（原因）。

🪷 Spiritual Goal

佛學／心靈目標

Understand karma / Cetanā — that every action begins with an intention. Learn to look back on the past with wisdom, not worry, so that we can understand our intentions and grow from them.

了解「業／思」（karma / Cetanā）──每一個行為都從一個意圖開始。學會用智慧而不是擔憂來回顧過去，這樣我們才能明白自己的意圖，並從中成長。

單字 Vocabulary

點 🔊 聽發音

聽、跟著念、大聲說三次。

slept(v. past)	睡了（sleep 的過去式）
ate(v. past)	吃了（eat 的過去式）
went(v. past)	去了（go 的過去式）
intentional(adj.)	有意的
intention(n.)	意圖
result(n.)	結果
cause(n.)	原因

句型 Sentence Patterns

Key Patterns

Pattern 1 · Saying what you did (irregular verbs)

I ___ (slept / ate / went) ___.

I slept at nine o’clock. I slept at nine o'clock.（我九點睡覺。）

I ate an apple this morning. I ate an apple this morning.（我今天早上吃了一顆蘋果。）

I went to school with my friend. I went to school with my friend.（我和朋友一起去上學。）

Pattern 2 · Asking about yesterday

What did you ___ yesterday?

What did you eat yesterday? What did you eat yesterday?（你昨天吃了什麼？）

Did you feel calm yesterday? Did you feel calm yesterday?（你昨天覺得平靜嗎？）

Pattern 3 · Giving a reason (cause and result)

I ___ because ___.

I ate rice because I was hungry. I ate rice because I was hungry.（我吃了飯，因為我餓了。）

I slept well because I felt peaceful. I slept well because I felt peaceful.（我睡得很好，因為我覺得很安詳。）

✏️ Grammar Focus · Simple past tense and irregular verbs

The simple past tense describes a finished action — something that already happened and cannot be changed. Many verbs add -ed (help → helped), but our three key verbs are irregular: sleep → slept · eat → ate · go → went. To ask a question, use did + the base verb: Did you go to school? (not Did you went).

簡單過去式（simple past tense）描述一件已經完成的動作──某件已經發生、無法再改變的事。很多動詞會加上 -ed（help → helped），但我們這三個重要動詞是不規則的（irregular）：sleep → slept、eat → ate、go → went。要提問時，用 did 加上動詞原形：Did you go to school?（你去上學了嗎？）（不是 Did you went）。

故事 The Story

Story

Imagine a gardener who plants a seed. （想像一位園丁種下一顆種子。） If she plants a kind seed — a helpful word, a generous act — a kind plant grows. If she plants a careless seed, weeds grow instead. The seed is the cause （原因）; the plant is the result （結果）. We are all gardeners of our own day.

想像一位園丁種下一顆種子。如果她種下一顆善良的種子──一句有幫助的話、一個慷慨的舉動──就會長出善良的植物。如果她種下一顆隨便、不用心的種子，長出來的就會是雜草。種子是原因（cause）；植物是結果（result）。我們每個人都是自己這一天的園丁。

So when we look back at yesterday, we are not looking for things to worry about. We look back with wisdom: “Why did I do that? What was my intention?” Maybe yesterday I forgot my homework, and this caused stress this morning. That is a small result of a small cause — and now I can plant a wiser seed today. Don’t worry about yesterday; learn from it.

所以當我們回顧昨天時，並不是在找讓自己擔憂的事。我們是用智慧來回顧：「我為什麼那樣做？我的意圖是什麼？」也許昨天我忘了帶作業，結果今天早上很緊張。這是一個小原因帶來的小結果──而現在，今天我可以種下一顆更有智慧的種子。不要為昨天擔憂，要從昨天學習。

🤔 Check your understanding

What does the seed stand for in the story? 故事裡的「種子」代表什麼？
Is karma the same as fate? Why or why not? 業力等於命運嗎？為什麼？
When we look back at yesterday, should we worry — or learn? 回顧昨天時，我們該擔心還是學習？

佛法小品 The Principle

Principle

In Buddhism, karma (業) is not fate or punishment. The Buddha taught: “It is intention (Cetanā 思) that I call karma.” Every action — what we say, do, and think — begins with an intention, and that intention shapes the results we meet today.

在佛教裡，業（karma，業）不是命運，也不是懲罰。佛陀教導我們：「我說，意圖（思，Cetanā）就是業。」每一個行為──我們所說、所做、所想的──都從一個意圖開始，而那個意圖塑造了我們今天所遇到的結果。

🌟 Intention is the seed 意圖即種子

Cetanā (思) means volition or intention — the small spark inside us right before we act. We cannot change yesterday’s actions, but we can understand the intentions behind them. When we plant wholesome intentions today, we shape a kinder result tomorrow. Looking back becomes a teacher, not a burden.

思（Cetanā）的意思是意志或意圖──就在我們行動之前，內心那一點小小的火花。我們無法改變昨天的行為，但我們可以明白行為背後的意圖。當我們今天種下善的意圖，就為明天塑造出更善良的結果。回顧過去因此成為一位老師，而不是一個負擔。

練習 Practice

Homework

Each day, write down what you did using the simple past tense, and reflect on the intention behind it. Choose the tier that fits you. 每天用過去式記錄，並反思行為的意圖與結果。

Beginner 入門

3 sentences

Ages 5–8 · new learners

Write 3 complete sentences that use all three target verbs: slept, ate, went. Then say one good thing that happened today.

寫出 3 個完整的句子，用上這三個目標動詞：slept、ate、went。然後說一件今天發生的好事。

ExampleI slept at nine o’clock. I ate an apple. I went to school.

Intermediate 中級

4–5 sentences

Ages 9–12 · developing fluency

Write 4–5 sentences using at least 5 past-tense verbs. Describe one wholesome action and explain why it was helpful.

寫 4 到 5 個句子，至少用上 5 個過去式動詞。描述一個善的（wholesome）行為，並解釋它為什麼有幫助。

ExampleYesterday, I helped my dad. I felt happy because I made a good action. I slept very well after that.

Advanced 進階

5+ sentences

Ages 13–16 · fluent speakers

Write 5+ sentences using complex structures (because of, although, after that) and analyze the intention (Cetanā) behind one action.

寫 5 個以上的句子，運用較複雜的結構（because of 因為、although 雖然、after that 在那之後），並分析一個行為背後的意圖（思，Cetanā）。

ExampleI forgot to finish my homework last night. Although this caused stress this morning, I reflected on my intention and promised to be more mindful of my time today.

小考 Mini Quiz

Check Yourself

選出最適合的答案，點選後會看到解析。

Question 1 of 10

What is the simple past tense of sleep ?

Correct: C. Sleep is irregular: sleep → slept. There is no “sleeped.”

Question 2 of 10

Choose the correct sentence about yesterday.

Correct: A. Eat is irregular: eat → ate. We use the past tense for a finished action.

Question 3 of 10

Complete it: “Yesterday I ___ to school.”

Correct: D. Go is irregular: go → went. “Goed” is never correct.

Question 4 of 10

Which question is correct?

Correct: B. After did, use the base verb: “Did you go…?” — not “did you went.”

Question 5 of 10

In Buddhism, what does karma (Cetanā) really mean?

Correct: C. The Buddha said, “It is intention (Cetanā) that I call karma.” Karma begins with our intention, not with fate.

Question 6 of 10

In the garden story, the seed is the cause. What is the plant?

Correct: A. The seed is the cause (原因) and the plant that grows is the result (結果).

Question 7 of 10

Why do we look back at yesterday?

Correct: D. We look back with wisdom, not worry — to understand our intentions and plant a wiser seed today.

Question 8 of 10

Which word means “結果 / what happens after a cause”?

Correct: B. Result = 結果. Cause = 原因; intention = 意圖.

Question 9 of 10

Add a reason: “I slept well ___ I felt peaceful.”

Correct: C. Because introduces a reason — a cause: “I slept well because I felt peaceful.”

Question 10 of 10

A student forgot her homework and felt stressed. What is the wise response?

Correct: A. We cannot change the past, but we can understand the intention behind it and plant a wiser seed today.

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