International Moon Day highlights a new era of lunar exploration
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EN: The Present Perfect Tense ('has drawn') is used to describe an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past and has a direct result or relevance to the present.
The new space program has attracted many young scientists.
EN: The Relative Clause ('that are planned for the Moon') is introduced by the relative pronoun 'that' to modify the preceding noun phrase 'the growing number of missions'.
These are the technologies that are needed for Mars exploration.
EN: International Moon Day is celebrated on July 20th to commemorate the anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon by Apollo 11 in 1969. It was officially declared by the United Nations General Assembly to raise public awareness about sustainable lunar exploration.
EN: Present Perfect Continuous Tense (have/has been + V-ing): This tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and is still continuing in the present, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the activity.
Scientists have been studying the effects of climate change for decades.
EN: Infinitive of Purpose (to + verb): The infinitive form 'to explore' is used here to express the purpose or reason why countries are developing new technologies.
She saved money to buy a new computer.
EN: The structure 'One of the + superlative adjective + plural noun' is used to single out one member from a group that shares a common, extreme characteristic. It is important to remember that the noun following 'one of the' must be plural (e.g., 'missions'), but the verb that agrees with 'one' must be singular (e.g., 'is').
One of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia is Japan.
EN: A non-defining relative clause is introduced by 'which' (preceded by a comma) to provide extra, non-essential information about the noun before it ('China's Chang'e-7'). If you remove this clause, the main sentence still makes complete sense.
EN: The Present Perfect Tense (have/has + past participle) is used here with the adverb 'already' to emphasize that an action has been completed prior to the present moment, and its result is relevant now.
The team has already completed the safety checks for the new satellite.
EN: Compound Nouns and Noun Adjuncts: In English, nouns can modify other nouns (e.g., 'carrier rocket', 'launch site'). The first noun acts like an adjective to describe the type or purpose of the second noun.
The space agency is building a new control center.
EN: Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, located in Hainan Province, is China's southernmost spaceport. Unlike older inland launch sites, its coastal location allows for the transport of large rocket components (like the Long March-5) by sea, and launching over the ocean provides safety benefits.
EN: Present Continuous Tense (be + V-ing) is used here to describe an action that is currently in progress at the moment of speaking. 'Are working' indicates that the engineering work is happening right now.
The scientists are conducting an experiment in the laboratory now.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'work on' means to spend time and effort improving, building, or repairing something. It is commonly followed by a noun or a gerund.
She is working on a new book about space exploration.
EN: The comparative structure 'closer than ever to + gerund/noun' is used to show that the current state has reached a historical peak. Note that 'to' here is a preposition, so it must be followed by a gerund (verb-ing) like 'understanding' rather than an infinitive.
With the new technology, we are closer than ever to finding a cure.
EN: Apposition (Noun Phrase in Apposition): 'a senior space scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' is an appositive phrase that provides extra information about the noun phrase 'Doctor Li Wei'. It is separated by commas.
Mr. Green, a talented local artist, designed the new community park.
EN: The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is the world's largest research organization and plays a leading role in China's space exploration programs, including the Chang'e lunar missions. In scientific news reporting, it is common to introduce a scientist's full title and affiliation to establish authority and credibility.
EN: Non-defining relative clauses (using 'which') are used to add extra, non-essential information about a noun. They are separated from the main clause by a comma, and 'that' cannot be used as a replacement.
The new space telescope, which cost billions of dollars, has sent back its first images.
EN: The passive voice structure 'is considered' (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than who performs it. It is often followed by a noun phrase or adjective phrase.
The project is considered a major breakthrough in renewable energy.
EN: The Moon's south pole is a major focus of 21st-century space exploration. It is highly valued because scientists believe its permanently shadowed craters contain water ice, which could be vital for sustaining future human bases and producing rocket fuel.
EN: The simple future tense with 'will' is used to express future actions, decisions, or predictions. It is formed by 'will' followed by the base form of the verb (bare infinitive).
The scientists will analyze the lunar soil samples next week.
EN: The verb 'conduct' is a formal transitive verb meaning to organize and perform a particular activity, such as a survey, experiment, or investigation.
The research team will conduct a series of tests on the new equipment.
EN: The relative pronoun 'that' introduces a defining relative clause (also called an adjective clause) to modify the noun phrase 'water ice'. It acts as the subject of the relative clause, followed by the modal verb 'may' and the main verb 'exist'.
The telescope detected a planet that may support human life.
EN: The modal verb 'may' is used to express possibility or uncertainty about a present or future state. It is followed by the base form of the verb ('exist').
There are dark clouds in the sky, so it may rain later.
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.
Learning a new language opens up many career opportunities.
EN: Conditional 'Would' for Hypothetical Situations: 'Would' is used here to express a hypothetical or future possibility that depends on a condition (finding water).
Living on Mars would be very challenging for humans.
EN: The term 'lunar surface' is preferred in scientific and formal contexts over 'the surface of the Moon' as 'lunar' (derived from the Latin word for moon, 'Luna') is the standard scientific adjective for things relating to the Moon.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'In addition to' is used to mean 'besides' or 'as well as'. It must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or a gerund (verb-ing). In this sentence, it is followed by the gerund 'searching'.
In addition to learning English, she also studies Spanish.
EN: The phrase 'such as' is used to introduce specific examples that illustrate a category. It is followed by nouns or noun phrases (here, 'precision landing' and 'hopping exploration').
The museum has many historical artifacts, such as ancient coins and weapons.
EN: Present Continuous Passive (am/is/are + being + past participle) is used to describe an action that is currently in progress, emphasizing the receiver of the action rather than the doer.
New renewable energy systems are being developed to reduce carbon emissions.
EN: The infinitive of purpose (to + verb) is used to express the reason or purpose for doing something. In this sentence, 'to help...' explains why the technologies are being developed.
She saved money to buy a new laptop for college.
EN: First Conditional (Conditional Type 1): Used to talk about things which might happen in the future. The structure is 'If + present simple, will + infinitive'. It expresses a real possibility.
If we complete the project on time, we will receive the funding.
EN: Appositive (Noun Phrase in Apposition): A noun phrase placed next to another noun to identify or explain it. Here, 'a rocket engineer' explains the identity of 'Professor Zhang Ming'.
EN: In English news reporting, it is common to place the reporting verb (e.g., 'explained', 'said') before the subject (e.g., 'Professor Zhang Ming') when it follows a direct quote. Additionally, professional titles and affiliations are often appended as appositives (e.g., ', a rocket engineer') to establish the speaker's authority and credibility immediately.
EN: Present Perfect Passive Voice ('has been' + past participle): This structure is used to describe an action that started in the past and has relevance to the present, focusing on the receiver of the action (the Chang'e-7 mission) rather than the doer.
The project has been described as a major breakthrough by scientists.
EN: Infinitive Phrase as an Adjective ('to build...'): The infinitive 'to build' acts as an adjective modifying the noun 'plan', explaining the purpose or content of the plan.
She has a plan to study abroad next year.
EN: The 'Chang'e' missions are named after the Chinese goddess of the Moon, reflecting a cultural connection between traditional mythology and modern space exploration. The goal of building a joint International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) is a major focus of China's space program in collaboration with other nations.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
The outer ground or crust of the Moon.
To make people notice or think about something.
To make it possible for something to happen or exist; to create opportunities.
Water in its solid state, especially on other planets or moons, to distinguish it from other frozen gases.