Oil prices on track for steepest monthly fall since 2020
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EN: The conjunction 'as' is used here to indicate that two things are happening at the same time, often showing a cause-and-effect relationship where one event triggers another.
The crowd cheered as the players entered the field.
EN: Adverbs of manner, like 'sharply', are used to describe how an action is performed. 'Sharply' indicates a sudden and significant change.
The temperature rose sharply in the afternoon.
EN: The relationship between the United States and Iran is a major geopolitical factor influencing global oil prices. The Strait of Hormuz, mentioned in the context, is one of the world's most important oil transit chokepoints, which is why any potential 'deal' or 'conflict' between these two nations causes immediate reactions in the energy markets.
EN: Present Continuous Tense (be + V-ing): Used here to describe a current trend or an action happening around the present moment.
The stock market is rising due to positive news.
EN: The preposition 'since' with a specific point in time: Used to indicate the starting point of a period that continues up to the present.
He has been working here since 2015.
EN: The year 2020 is a significant reference point in global economics because the COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented fluctuations in oil prices, including a period where prices briefly turned negative.
EN: Non-defining relative clauses: These provide extra information about a noun using 'which' or 'who' and are separated by commas. They are not essential to the sentence's core meaning.
The company, which was founded in 1990, is now a market leader.
EN: Present Perfect Tense: Formed with 'has/have + past participle', it describes an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance now, often used with 'since'.
The stock market has risen significantly since the beginning of the year.
EN: Brent crude is a major trading classification of sweet light crude oil that serves as a major benchmark price for purchases of oil worldwide. It is sourced from the North Sea.
EN: Non-restrictive Relative Clause: The word 'which' is used after a comma to provide extra information about the preceding clause or noun phrase. In this sentence, it describes the price movement of the oil mentioned earlier.
The company's stock rose by 5%, which was a surprise to many investors.
EN: Preposition 'at' for Price/Rate: The preposition 'at' is commonly used to indicate a specific price, rate, or level at which something is bought, sold, or trading.
The gold was sold at 2,000 dollars per ounce.
EN: Brent crude is a major trading classification of sweet light crude oil that serves as a major benchmark price for purchases of oil worldwide. The price per barrel is a key economic indicator often discussed in global news.
EN: The Present Participle as an Adjective: The word 'growing' is a present participle (verb + -ing) used as an adjective to describe the noun 'hope'. It indicates a continuous or increasing state.
There is a growing demand for electric cars.
EN: Prepositional Phrases as Modifiers: The sentence uses several prepositional phrases ('for this drop', 'for a peace deal', 'between the United States and Iran') to provide specific details about the nouns they follow.
The key to success is hard work.
EN: The relationship between the United States and Iran has been a significant factor in global oil market stability for decades. Diplomatic developments between these two nations often lead to immediate fluctuations in energy prices due to Iran's strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz.
EN: The Present Perfect Tense (have/has + past participle) is used here to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present (has lasted) or has a result in the present (has caused).
The rain has lasted for three hours.
EN: The phrase 'cause problems for' is a common collocation used to indicate the target or entity that is negatively affected by a specific issue.
The technical glitch caused problems for the users.
EN: The mention of the 90-day conflict refers to the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, specifically involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical chokepoint for global oil supply. Any instability here historically leads to immediate fluctuations in global energy prices.
EN: The structure 'by + -ing' (gerund) is used to describe the method or means by which an action is performed.
She improved her English by watching movies.
EN: Non-restrictive relative clauses start with 'which' and provide extra information about a noun. They are always separated by a comma.
He lives in Paris, which is the capital of France.
EN: The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important choke points for oil. About a fifth of the world's total oil consumption passes through this narrow waterway between the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
EN: The Passive Voice (be + past participle) is used when the action is more important than the person or thing performing it. In this sentence, 'was closed' and 'were blocked' focus on the state of the strait and the exports.
The road was blocked by fallen trees after the storm.
EN: The conjunction 'Because' introduces a subordinate clause of reason, explaining why the main event (the blocking of oil) occurred.
Because the flight was delayed, we missed the meeting.
EN: The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important choke points for oil. Located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, it is the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, making it vital for global energy security.
EN: The phrase 'According to' is a prepositional phrase used to indicate the source of information. It is followed by a noun or a noun phrase.
According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
EN: The Past Simple tense (shared) is used to describe a completed action that happened at a specific time in the past.
The manager shared the new plan with the team yesterday.
EN: In diplomatic contexts, a 'draft' refers to a preliminary version of a document that is not yet final. Sharing such documents with 'allies' is a standard procedure to ensure mutual support before official negotiations.
EN: The Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle) is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. Here, the 'reaching of a deal' happened before the 'reporting'.
The company had already signed the contract before the news was released.
EN: The 'that' clause functions as a noun clause (object) following the reporting verb 'reported', providing the specific content of what was reported.
She reported that the project was finished on time.
EN: Axios is a prominent American news website known for its 'Smart Brevity' style, focusing on concise reporting of politics and business. The mention of '60 days' is a common timeframe in diplomatic negotiations for temporary cooling-off periods.
EN: The Present Perfect Tense (have/has + past participle) is used here with 'not yet' to describe an action that was expected to happen but has not occurred up to the present moment.
The manager has not yet signed the contract.
EN: The phrasal verb 'agree to' is used when someone gives their consent or accepts a formal proposal, plan, or set of terms.
They finally agreed to the new rules.
EN: In international diplomacy and business, 'terms' refers to the specific conditions or points of an agreement. The phrase 'not yet' is often used in news reporting to indicate that while a deal is close, it remains unconfirmed, maintaining a sense of ongoing negotiation.
EN: Reported speech with 'that' clause: This structure is used to report what someone said. The verb 'said' is followed by a 'that' clause which functions as the object of the sentence.
The manager said that the meeting was canceled.
EN: Adverbs of time 'yet' and 'already': 'Yet' is used in negative statements to indicate that something expected has not happened up to the present time.
I haven't finished my homework yet.
EN: In U.S. politics, the Vice President often acts as a key spokesperson for the administration's foreign policy. The phrase 'not there yet' is a common idiomatic expression in American English used in negotiations to indicate that while progress has been made, a final agreement hasn't been reached.
EN: The Present Perfect Tense (have/has + past participle) is used to describe an action that happened in the past but has a direct connection or result in the present.
The recent news has had a major impact on our plans.
EN: The phrase 'have an effect on' is a common collocation used to describe how one thing influences another. 'Effect' is a noun, while 'affect' is usually the verb form.
Regular exercise has a positive effect on your health.
EN: Appositives are nouns or noun phrases that follow another noun to explain or identify it. In this sentence, 'an analyst at Deutsche Bank' identifies who 'Henry Allen' is.
Mr. Smith, my high school teacher, is very kind.
EN: The Past Continuous tense (was/were + verb-ing) is used here within a reported speech structure to describe a situation that was ongoing at the time of the statement.
She said that the children were playing in the garden.
EN: Deutsche Bank is a major German multinational investment bank. In financial news, analysts from such institutions are frequently quoted to provide expert perspective on market trends.
EN: The sentence uses a 'that-clause' as a noun clause acting as the direct object of the verb 'explained'. This structure is used to report what someone said or thought.
She mentioned that the meeting was canceled.
EN: The present continuous tense ('are feeling') is used here to describe a current state or a developing trend in the investors' sentiment.
Consumers are feeling more optimistic about the holiday season.
EN: The phrase 'As a result' is a transitional adverbial phrase used to introduce a consequence or effect of something previously mentioned.
He studied hard; as a result, he passed the exam.
EN: The 'There has been' structure is the present perfect form of 'There is/are', used to indicate that something has existed or occurred from a point in the past up to the present.
There has been a lot of rain this week.
EN: In financial contexts, a 'rally' refers to a period of sustained increases in the prices of stocks, bonds, or related indexes. This term is often used to describe a recovery after a period of decline or stagnation.
EN: Present Perfect Passive Voice: Formed by 'has/have + been + past participle'. It is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present, or has just been completed, where the subject receives the action.
The new policy has been used to improve efficiency.
EN: Linking Verb 'Seem': Used to describe an impression or appearance. It is often followed by an adjective (like 'smaller') to describe the state of the subject.
The problem seems simple but is actually complex.
EN: 'Stagflation' is a portmanteau of 'stagnation' and 'inflation'. It describes a rare and difficult economic situation where economic growth is stagnant (slow) while inflation (rising prices) is high, which traditionally shouldn't happen at the same time.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
A major trading classification of sweet light crude oil that serves as a major benchmark price for purchases of oil worldwide.
A regular practical route taken by ships on the ocean or large lakes.
A stock exchange where shares of publicly held companies are issued and traded.
A feeling of hope or confidence that is gradually increasing.