am
/æm/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈæm] /æm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌeɪˈem/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈæm] /ˌeɪˈem/ (ame, ipa)
am — verb
1. the present-tense form of 'be' that goes with I; it links the speaker to an iden
the present-tense form of 'be' that goes with I; it links the speaker to an identity, state, place, or activity, and it also helps form the present continuous.
I am ready to meet Christopher outside the station at six.
I am + adjective for a present state
I am in Ayana's class, so we share the same science teacher.
I am + place/group for present membership
I am saving money because I want a bike before summer.
I am the only person from Taipei on this study tour.
I am not hungry now, but I will eat later.
文法句型
I am + adjective
I am + noun phrase
I am + place
I am + verb-ing
用法筆記
Only used with the subject I in standard English. It works both as a linking verb and as an auxiliary in forms such as 'I am working'. Distinguish it from 'is' and 'are', which take different subjects.
常見錯誤
am — time marker
1. written after a clock time to show that the hour falls between midnight and noon
written after a clock time to show that the hour falls between midnight and noon.
The bakery opens at 6 am, so Trang arrives before sunrise.
[time] + am after a clock time
Please call me after 9 a.m. because I teach early classes.
after + [time] + a.m.
Our train leaves at 5 am from platform two tomorrow.
By 11 am, the market was already crowded with tourists.
- p.m.
marks times from noon to midnight
文法句型
[time] + am
[time] + a.m.
用法筆記
Placed after the number that names the time. Lower-case 'a.m.' with stops and plain 'am' are both common in everyday writing. Use 'pm' or 'p.m.' for hours after noon.
常見錯誤
am — noun
- amsingular
- amsplural
1. radio broadcasting that carries sound by changing signal strength rather than si
radio broadcasting that carries sound by changing signal strength rather than signal frequency; people often call this system AM, and its sound is usually rougher than FM.
My grandfather still listens to baseball games on AM radio at lunch.
AM radio for the broadcast system
The weather report came through clearly on the local AM station.
AM station in broadcast context
At night, Yumi can hear distant voices on old AM radios.
The taxi driver switched from FM to AM for the traffic news.
- amplitude modulation
the full technical term
- FM
uses frequency change instead of signal-strength change
文法句型
AM radio
AM station
on AM
用法筆記
Usually appears near words such as 'radio', 'station', 'signal', or a frequency number. Distinguish this sense from the time marker by nearby vocabulary about broadcasting and listening.
2. a politician chosen to sit in Wales's parliament, when the title Assembly Member
a politician chosen to sit in Wales's parliament, when the title Assembly Member is shortened to AM in reports or official writing.
The local AM visited our school to discuss bus safety.
the AM in local political news
Voters asked the AM about hospital waiting times at the meeting.
Our AM said the new road plan needs more public money.
The AM wrote to residents after the storm damaged several farms.
- Assembly Member
the full title
- representative
broader and less specific
文法句型
the AM
our AM
local AM
用法筆記
Mostly seen in Welsh political news and official titles. Context words such as voters, residents, hospitals, and public money show that this sense refers to a public representative, not to the degree or membership abbreviations below.
am — abbreviation
1. a shortened written form of Master of Arts, a postgraduate degree in arts or hum
a shortened written form of Master of Arts, a postgraduate degree in arts or humanities subjects.
Her college letter says she completed an AM in history.
an AM in + subject
Nikhil returned to campus for an AM in public policy.
The museum hired an AM graduate to manage its archives.
Emily listed her AM beside her BA on the conference program.
- Master of Arts
the full degree name
文法句型
an AM in [subject]
AM graduate
earn an AM
用法筆記
Usually appears in university records, biographies, or conference programs rather than in casual speech. Distinguish it from abbreviation sense 5, which names a type of member rather than an academic degree.
2. a short form of associate member, a person who belongs to a group with fewer rig
a short form of associate member, a person who belongs to a group with fewer rights than a full member.
The club lists Gabriela as an AM until she passes the final exam.
as an AM on a membership list
AM members may join trips, but they cannot vote yet.
AM members contrasted with fuller rights
The form asks whether you want full membership or AM status.
As an AM, Tariq could attend training before applying for full membership.
- associate member
the full expression
- provisional member
similar idea in some organizations, but not always the same title
- full member
has the complete rights of membership
文法句型
an AM
AM status
as an AM
用法筆記
Often appears on forms, membership lists, and club rules where full members and AMs do not have exactly the same rights. Distinguish it from abbreviation sense 3, which refers to a graduate degree.
am — symbol
1. the chemical symbol for americium, a radioactive metal named in scientific writi
the chemical symbol for americium, a radioactive metal named in scientific writing and on the periodic table.
The chart shows Am in the row with other heavy elements.
Am on a scientific chart
Our lab kit labels americium with the symbol Am.
the symbol Am for americium
The smoke detector manual mentions a tiny amount of Am.
Ilan circled Am on the worksheet about radioactive metals.
- americium
the full element name
文法句型
symbol Am
Am on the periodic table
amount of Am
用法筆記
Always written with a capital A and a small m. In ordinary speech, people usually say the full word 'americium', but formulas, charts, and technical labels use the symbol.