What People Believe (H2)
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EN: The conjunction 'that' is used to introduce a noun clause (or object clause) functioning as the direct object of the verb 'think'. In informal English, 'that' is often omitted, but including it makes the sentence structure clearer.
I believe that honesty is the best policy.
EN: The determiner 'every' is used with a singular countable noun ('culture') to refer to all members of a group. It is followed by a singular verb ('has').
Every student has a unique talent.
EN: This sentence reflects a multicultural perspective, emphasizing cultural relativism and respect. In English-speaking societies, acknowledging that 'every culture has its own wisdom' is a common way to promote inclusivity and open-mindedness in discussions about global traditions.
EN: A pseudo-cleft sentence (or 'wh-cleft') uses a 'what' clause as the subject to place special emphasis on a specific part of the sentence (here, what the speaker admires).
What I need is a cup of hot coffee.
EN: Noun clauses starting with 'how' function as nouns. In this sentence, 'how people share their joy' acts as the subject complement after the linking verb 'is'.
How she solved the puzzle surprised everyone.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, expressing admiration for how other cultures celebrate and find joy is a common way to show openness, cultural empathy, and respect, focusing on shared human emotions rather than differences.
EN: Indirect questions are used to ask for information politely or express uncertainty. They are embedded within a main clause (here, 'I wonder') and use statement word order (subject + verb) instead of question word order (verb + subject). No auxiliary verb 'do/does/did' is used.
I wonder where they live.
EN: The verb 'last' is used as an intransitive verb meaning to continue in time, remain, or endure. It is often followed by a duration modifier such as 'so long'.
The meeting lasted for two hours.
EN: The conjunction 'whether... or not' is used to introduce an adverbial clause of condition, meaning 'regardless of whether' or 'no matter if'. It indicates that the main clause remains true regardless of which of the two alternatives is the case.
Whether it rains or not, the game will begin on time.
EN: The modal verb 'should' is used to express duty, obligation, or a strong recommendation, suggesting that doing something is the right or best course of action.
We should respect other people's opinions.
EN: In multicultural communication, active listening is highly valued. This sentence reflects the cultural emphasis on empathy and open-mindedness, suggesting that understanding others is important even when there is a disagreement.
EN: The noun clause (or content clause) introduced by the conjunction 'that' functions as the direct object of the verb 'believe'. In informal English, 'that' is often omitted, but keeping it adds clarity and formality.
I hope that we can meet again soon.
EN: The simple present tense is used here to express a general truth, belief, or permanent state. The verb 'crosses' agrees with the singular third-person subject 'kindness'.
Love overcomes all difficulties.
EN: This sentence reflects a universal humanitarian value often emphasized in intercultural communication: that basic human virtues like empathy and kindness are universal and transcend political, geographical, or cultural boundaries.
EN: A noun clause starting with 'how' (wh- adverb) can function as the subject of a sentence. It describes the manner or way in which something is done. Since a noun clause is treated as a single unit, it takes a singular verb (in this case, 'shows').
How she solves problems inspires everyone.
EN: The verb 'show' is a transitive verb that takes a direct object ('great respect'). It means to make a feeling, quality, or attitude apparent through actions or behavior.
His actions show true courage.
EN: Hospitality and the way guests are welcomed vary significantly across cultures, but showing respect to visitors is a universal value. In many English-speaking cultures, greeting guests warmly with a smile, eye contact, and offering a drink are standard signs of respect.
EN: The use of 'if' as a conjunction meaning 'whether' to introduce a noun clause. This clause functions as the complement of the adjective 'sure', expressing uncertainty.
I am not sure if he will come to the party.
EN: The adverb 'really' is used to modify the adjective 'true' to add emphasis, meaning 'actually' or 'genuinely'.
Is this diamond really real?
EN: A nominal relative clause (or free relative clause) starting with 'What' acts as the subject of the sentence. It means 'the thing that' or 'that which' and is used to emphasize a specific point.
What I need is a cup of hot coffee.
EN: A noun clause introduced by the conjunction 'that' is used here as a subject complement following the linking verb 'is'. It explains or defines what the subject ('What matters') is.
The truth is that we lost the game.
EN: This sentence reflects a core value in multicultural communication: prioritizing empathy and active listening over immediate agreement or judgment. In English-speaking cultures, emphasizing the effort to understand ('try to understand') is seen as a sign of respect and open-mindedness.
EN: The conjunction 'that' is used to introduce a noun clause (or object clause) that functions as the direct object of the verb 'know'. In informal English, 'that' is often omitted, but including it makes the sentence structure clearer.
I believe that honesty is the best policy.
EN: The verb 'give' is a ditransitive verb, which means it can take two objects: an indirect object (the person receiving, 'people') and a direct object (the thing being given, 'comfort'). The pattern is: give + indirect object + direct object.
She gave her brother a beautiful book.
EN: Noun clauses (also known as nominal clauses) can function as the subject of a sentence. In this sentence, the noun clause 'Why we celebrate' acts as the singular subject. It uses statement word order (subject + verb) rather than question word order.
How we live defines who we are.
EN: The adverb 'often' is an adverb of frequency. It is typically placed before the main verb (in this case, 'tells') to indicate how frequently an action occurs.
She often visits the local museum.
EN: This sentence reflects a universal cultural truth: traditions, holidays, and festivals are not just for entertainment; they are living archives of a community's historical struggles, triumphs, and values. Understanding 'why' people celebrate helps build cross-cultural empathy.
EN: The verb 'hope' can be followed by a noun clause starting with 'that' to express a desire for a possible future event. The word 'that' is often omitted in casual conversation.
I hope that you can come to my party tomorrow.
EN: 'One another' is a reciprocal pronoun used when referring to more than two people doing the same thing to each other. It is similar to 'each other', which is traditionally used for two people, though they are often used interchangeably in modern English.
The students helped one another with the homework.
EN: A noun clause introduced by 'that' can function as the subject of a sentence. This is called a subject clause. It represents a fact or idea and is treated as a singular noun phrase.
That she passed the exam made her parents very proud.
EN: The verb 'make' can be used as a causative/factitive verb in the pattern 'make + object + object complement (adjective)'. It means to cause the object to be in a certain state.
The warm weather makes me sleepy.
EN: This sentence reflects a core modern multicultural value: that diversity is not a source of conflict, but rather a source of beauty and strength that enriches human society.
EN: Gerund as Subject: A gerund (verb + -ing) can function as a noun and serve as the subject of a sentence. It is treated as a singular noun, so it takes a singular verb.
Learning a new language opens up many opportunities.
EN: Subject-Verb Agreement with Singular Verbs: When the subject is a singular concept (like a gerund phrase), the verb in the simple present tense must end with -s or -es (e.g., 'begins').
Reading books keeps the mind active.
EN: The phrase 'an open mind' is a common English idiom meaning a willingness to consider new ideas or opinions without prejudice. In multicultural communication, this concept is highly valued as a prerequisite for empathy and mutual respect.
EN: The noun clause starting with 'that' acts as the direct object of the verb 'believe'. In this structure, 'that' is a conjunction that introduces a complete sentence (subject + verb + object) and can often be omitted in casual speech.
I believe that we can find a solution.
EN: The determiner 'every' is used with a singular countable noun ('belief') to refer to all members of a group. Consequently, the verb that follows ('holds') must be in the singular form.
Every child deserves a good education.
EN: This sentence reflects a pluralistic and inclusive worldview, which is highly valued in modern multicultural societies. It suggests that no single culture or belief system has a monopoly on wisdom, encouraging mutual respect and open-minded dialogue.
EN: A nominal relative clause (or free relative clause) introduced by 'what' functions as a noun phrase. In this sentence, 'What surprises me' acts as the subject of the main verb 'is'.
What I need is a cup of hot coffee.
EN: The phrase 'from place to place' is an adverbial idiom meaning 'from one location to another' or 'varying by location'. It is used to show diversity or change across different geographical areas.
The local dialects change from place to place.
EN: Indirect questions (noun clauses) are used when a question is embedded within a larger sentence. Unlike direct questions, indirect questions follow statement word order (Subject + Verb) instead of question word order (Verb + Subject). In this sentence, 'why some traditions stay...' is an indirect question acting as the object of the verb 'wonder'.
I don't know where she lives.
EN: The linking verb 'stay' can be followed by an adjective (like 'same') to describe the state or condition of the subject continuing without change.
Please stay calm during the meeting.
EN: The phrase 'for ages' is a common English idiom meaning 'for a very long time'. It is widely used in both spoken and informal written English to add emphasis to the duration of an event or state.
EN: The conjunction 'whether... or not' is used to introduce an adverbial clause of concession, meaning 'no matter if' or 'regardless of whether' one condition or another is true. It indicates that the main clause remains true in either case.
Whether it rains or not, the game will begin on time.
EN: The linking verb 'seem' is followed by an adjective (in this case, 'strange') to describe the appearance or impression of the subject. It means to give the impression of being something.
The plan seems perfect to everyone.
EN: This sentence reflects a multicultural perspective, emphasizing cultural relativism—the idea that a person's beliefs and practices should be understood based on that person's own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of another.
EN: Noun Clause as Subject: A noun clause (here starting with the question word 'How') can act as the subject of a sentence. It is treated as a singular noun phrase, so the main verb ('reveals') takes a singular 's'. Note that 'a people' here refers to a singular nation or ethnic group, not the plural 'people'.
How we handle our mistakes defines our character.
EN: Superlative Adjectives: The superlative form of 'deep' is 'deepest'. It is used to describe something that has the quality to the greatest degree. In this sentence, it is preceded by the possessive determiner 'their' instead of the article 'the'.
This book shares their deepest secrets.
EN: In many traditional cultures, the treatment and respect shown to elderly family and community members is considered the ultimate measure of a society's moral integrity and cultural depth. This sentence reflects that universal value.
EN: A nominal relative clause (or free relative clause) introduced by 'What' acts as the subject of the sentence. 'What I have learned' means 'The thing(s) that I have learned'.
What you need is a good rest.
EN: A noun clause introduced by the conjunction 'that' acts as the subject complement after the linking verb 'is'. 'That' has no semantic meaning here but functions as a subordinator.
My belief is that honesty is the best policy.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, discussing abstract values like 'respect' and 'friendship' is common in reflective conversations. Using structures like 'What I have learned is...' shows self-awareness and humility, making it a polite and thoughtful way to share personal insights.
EN: The conjunction 'if' is used here to introduce a noun clause (also called an indirect question) acting as the complement of the adjective 'sure'. In this context, 'if' means 'whether' and expresses uncertainty.
I don't know if he will come to the party.
EN: The determiner 'every' is followed by a singular countable noun ('custom') to refer to all members of a group individually. The adverb 'fully' modifies the verb 'understand', meaning completely or entirely.
She read every book fully to prepare for the exam.
EN: In cross-cultural communication, expressing humility and a willingness to learn (such as admitting you might not understand everything) is highly valued. It shows respect for the complexity of other cultures rather than making assumptions.
EN: A noun clause introduced by 'that' can act as the subject of a sentence. It represents a fact or idea and takes a singular verb (here, 'shows').
That she passed the exam made her parents very proud.
EN: The verb 'keep' followed by a gerund (verb-ing) means to continue doing something without stopping or to do it repeatedly.
We should keep practicing if we want to improve.
EN: The noun clause introduced by 'that' functions as the direct object of the verb 'know'. 'That' is a conjunction here and can be omitted in informal contexts.
I believe that kindness crosses all borders.
EN: Gerunds (verbs ending in -ing) function as nouns. In this sentence, 'listening' and 'judging' are gerunds used to compare two actions.
Learning a new language requires patience.
EN: This sentence reflects a common value in active listening and communication, emphasizing empathy and understanding over quick assumptions, which is highly valued in cross-cultural communication.
EN: A noun clause (or nominal clause) can function as the subject of a sentence. In this sentence, the entire clause 'Why people believe what they do' acts as the singular subject, followed by the singular verb 'is'. Noun clauses starting with question words (like 'why') use statement word order (subject + verb), not question word order.
Why she left the meeting early is still a mystery.
EN: The structure 'be worth + noun/noun phrase' is used to indicate that something is deserving of or justifies a particular action or attention. 'Study' here functions as a noun meaning the act of investigating or learning about a subject.
This ancient temple is always worth a visit.
EN: This sentence reflects a deeply pluralistic and empathetic worldview, which is highly valued in modern multicultural societies. Rather than judging unfamiliar customs or beliefs as 'wrong' or 'weird', it suggests that there is always a historical, psychological, or cultural reason behind them that is worthy of academic and respectful investigation.
EN: Nominal relative clauses (also called free relative clauses) are introduced by 'what' and function as nouns. In this sentence, 'what unites us' and 'what divides us' act as the subject and the object of the comparison respectively, meaning 'the thing(s) that'.
What you need is a good rest.
EN: The comparative structure 'greater than' is used to compare two things. Here, it compares the strength or importance of the two nominal clauses.
The love of family is greater than any challenge.
EN: This sentence expresses a universal, humanistic value often cited in speeches promoting peace, multiculturalism, and unity. It emphasizes focusing on shared humanity rather than cultural or political differences.
EN: Wh-questions with 'what' are used to ask for specific information. In this sentence, 'what' acts as the direct object of the verb 'admire'. In English, when forming a question with a wh-word as the object, we use the auxiliary verb 'do' (or 'does'/'did') before the subject.
What do you want to eat for dinner?
EN: Direct address is when you speak directly to someone and call them by their name. In writing, the name of the person being addressed (here, 'Emma') is separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma.
How are you feeling today, John?
EN: In English-speaking cultures, using someone's first name (like 'Emma') in conversation is very common and helps to build a friendly, personal connection. It shows that the speaker is actively engaging with the listener.
EN: A nominal relative clause (or fused relative clause) introduced by 'what' acts as a noun phrase. Here, 'What I admire' functions as the subject of the main verb 'is'. It means 'the thing that I admire'.
What she said made me happy.
EN: An indirect question introduced by 'how' functions as a noun clause. In this sentence, 'how people share their joy' acts as the subject complement following the linking verb 'is'. Unlike direct questions, indirect questions use statement word order (subject + verb).
This is how we solve the problem.
EN: This sentence reflects a universal humanistic value: focusing on shared positive emotions (joy) as a bridge between different cultures. In intercultural communication, focusing on shared celebrations and happiness is often seen as a powerful way to build empathy and mutual respect.
EN: The noun clause (or object clause) introduced by 'that'. In this sentence, 'that kindness crosses all borders' acts as the direct object of the verb 'believe'. The conjunction 'that' is often omitted in informal speech, but kept here for clarity.
I believe that honesty is the best policy.
EN: Subject-Verb Agreement with uncountable nouns. 'Kindness' is an uncountable abstract noun, so it takes the singular verb form 'crosses'.
Love conquers all difficulties.
EN: This sentence reflects a universalist worldview, emphasizing shared human values over national or cultural divisions. It is a common sentiment in international relations, humanitarian work, and multicultural education.
EN: Indirect questions are used to ask for information in a more polite or reflective way. Unlike direct questions ('Why do some customs last so long?'), indirect questions embedded within a statement use statement word order (Subject + Verb) instead of question word order (Auxiliary Verb + Subject).
I wonder where they bought that beautiful painting.
EN: The verb 'last' is used here as an intransitive verb meaning to continue in time, endure, or remain in existence. It is often accompanied by duration adverbs or phrases like 'so long'.
The meeting lasted for three hours.
EN: The conjunction 'whether... or not' is used to introduce an adverbial clause of concession, meaning 'regardless of whether' or 'no matter if'. It indicates that the main clause remains true under any of the conditions mentioned.
Whether it rains or not, the game will begin at ten.
EN: The modal verb 'should' is used to express duty, obligation, or a strong recommendation. It is followed by the base form of the verb (in this case, 'listen').
We should respect other people's opinions.
EN: In multicultural communication, active listening is highly valued. This sentence reflects a cultural emphasis on mutual respect and open-mindedness, suggesting that understanding others is important even when there is a disagreement.
EN: A noun clause introduced by 'how' can function as the subject of a sentence. This clause represents the manner or way in which something is done. Since a noun clause is treated as a single unit, it takes a singular verb (in this case, 'shows').
How she solves problems inspires everyone.
EN: The verb 'show' is a transitive verb that means to display, manifest, or make a quality apparent. In this context, 'shows great respect' means to express or demonstrate a high level of esteem or consideration towards others.
His polite behavior shows good manners.
EN: Hospitality and the way guests are welcomed are central to many cultures worldwide. In many traditional societies, greeting guests with warmth, food, or specific rituals is considered a fundamental duty and a reflection of the family's or community's honor and values.
EN: A nominal relative clause (or free relative clause) starting with 'What' acts as the subject of the sentence. It means 'the thing that' or 'that which' and is used to emphasize a specific point.
What I need is a cup of hot coffee.
EN: A noun clause introduced by the conjunction 'that' is used here as a subject complement after the linking verb 'is'. It completes the meaning of the subject by explaining what 'what matters' actually is.
The truth is that we lost the game.
EN: The conjunction 'if' is used here to introduce a noun clause (also called an indirect question) acting as the complement of the adjective 'sure'. In this context, 'if' means 'whether' and expresses uncertainty.
I do not know if he will come to the party.
EN: The phrase 'be not sure' is followed by a noun clause to express a lack of certainty about a fact, decision, or future event.
She is not sure what she wants to eat.
EN: The verb 'hope' can be followed by a noun clause starting with 'that' (which is often omitted in casual speech) to express a desire for a possible future event. Unlike 'wish', 'hope' is used for things that are realistic and highly possible.
I hope that you enjoy the party tonight.
EN: The reciprocal pronoun 'one another' is used to show that two or more people carry out an action that affects each other. It is often used interchangeably with 'each other', though 'one another' is sometimes preferred for groups of more than two people.
The team members always support one another.
EN: A noun clause starting with 'that' can function as the subject of a sentence. This is called a 'that-clause as subject'. Because the clause represents a single fact or idea, it takes a singular verb (in this case, 'makes').
That she passed the exam made her parents very happy.
EN: The verb 'make' can be used as a causative or linking-like verb in the pattern 'make + object + object complement (adjective)'. It means to cause the object to be in a certain state.
The warm weather makes the flowers bloom.
EN: This sentence reflects a core modern multicultural value: embracing diversity. In English-speaking cultures, diversity is often celebrated as a source of strength and beauty rather than a cause for division.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
A willingness to listen to, consider, and accept different ideas and opinions.
Varying from one location to another; differently in different areas.
For a very long time.