The Value of Reading (H5)
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EN: The structure 'The development of [noun]' uses a gerund-derived noun ('development') followed by the preposition 'of' to indicate the object of the development. This is a common way to form abstract noun phrases in formal English.
The development of new technology changes our daily lives.
EN: The verb 'take' is used here to mean 'require' or 'demand' (e.g., time, effort, courage). It is followed by non-count nouns ('time and effort') acting as the direct object.
Learning a new language takes patience.
EN: The structure 'The importance of [Noun/Gerund]' is used to highlight the significance of a particular concept or activity. Here, 'reading' is a gerund (verb+ing acting as a noun) serving as the object of the preposition 'of'.
The importance of teamwork cannot be overstated.
EN: The passive modal verb structure 'cannot be + past participle' is used to express that an action is impossible or not allowed to happen. In this sentence, 'cannot be ignored' means it is impossible or incorrect to overlook the subject.
This problem cannot be solved overnight.
EN: The phrase 'A lack of [noun]' is used as a singular noun phrase meaning 'not enough of something'. Since it is singular, it takes a singular verb (e.g., 'affects' with an -s).
A lack of water damages the plants.
EN: The verb 'affect' is a transitive verb meaning 'to have an influence on' or 'to cause a change in'. It directly takes an object without needing a preposition like 'on'.
EN: The structure 'The noun + of + noun' is used to show possession, connection, or a relationship where the first noun is the action or state, and the second noun is the subject or object of that action (e.g., 'The growth of cities' means cities are growing).
The expansion of the company created many new jobs.
EN: The correlative conjunction 'both... and...' is used to join two grammatical elements of equal importance (nouns, adjectives, verbs, etc.) to emphasize that both elements are included.
The project requires both time and money.
EN: The phrase 'gain and loss' reflects a philosophical view of progress, common in discussions about urbanization and modernization, highlighting that technological or societal advancement always comes with trade-offs (such as loss of nature or community).
EN: The noun phrase 'The protection of nature' uses the structure 'Noun + of + Noun' to define the relationship where 'nature' is the object being protected. This acts as the singular subject of the sentence.
The preservation of ancient buildings requires funding.
EN: The word 'shared' is a past participle used as an adjective (participial adjective) to modify the noun 'duty', meaning 'held in common' or 'participated in by two or more people'.
We have a shared goal of improving our community.
EN: In modern English-speaking societies, environmental protection and sustainability are highly valued and frequently discussed topics. Phrases like 'shared duty' or 'collective responsibility' are commonly used in public campaigns and education to foster a sense of community action toward global issues.
EN: The subject-verb agreement with uncountable nouns. 'Improvement' is an uncountable noun representing an abstract concept, so it takes the singular verb form 'comes'.
Success comes with hard work.
EN: The phrasal verb pattern 'come with', which means to exist or occur together with something, or to be accompanied by something.
Great responsibility comes with power.
EN: This sentence reflects a growth mindset highly valued in modern English-speaking educational and professional environments, emphasizing effort and consistency over innate talent.
EN: The subject of this sentence is 'The discovery of new ideas'. Although 'ideas' is plural, the core noun of the subject phrase is 'discovery' (singular). Therefore, the verb 'excites' must agree with the singular subject 'discovery' by adding '-s'. This is a common subject-verb agreement pattern where a prepositional phrase ('of new ideas') separates the core noun from the verb.
The development of new technologies creates many job opportunities.
EN: The preposition 'of' is used here to introduce the object of the action implied by the noun 'discovery'. 'The discovery of new ideas' means 'discovering new ideas'. This structure (Noun + of + Object) is frequently used to express abstract actions.
The protection of the environment requires everyone's effort.
EN: The noun 'reduction' is followed by the preposition 'in' to specify the area or domain where the decrease occurs (e.g., a reduction in size, a reduction in cost).
A reduction in price attracted more customers to the store.
EN: The verb 'benefit' can be used transitively, meaning 'to be useful or helpful to someone' without needing a preposition like 'to' or 'for'.
Regular exercise benefits both physical and mental health.
EN: In modern English-speaking societies, environmental sustainability and waste reduction (often associated with the 'Zero Waste' movement) are highly valued civic duties. Expressing these ideas clearly is common in both professional and casual discussions about community responsibility.
EN: The subject of this sentence is 'The expansion of knowledge'. In English, when a subject is modified by a prepositional phrase (like 'of knowledge'), the verb must agree with the head noun ('expansion'), which is singular, not the noun inside the prepositional phrase ('knowledge'). Therefore, the singular verb 'opens' is used.
The development of new technologies creates many job opportunities.
EN: The metaphor 'opens new doors' is a common idiom in English. It means to create new opportunities, possibilities, or paths for advancement in life, career, or learning.
Learning a foreign language opens new doors for your career.
EN: The concept of 'opening doors' is deeply rooted in Western culture, symbolizing opportunity, progress, and social mobility. It is often used in educational and career contexts to encourage continuous learning and self-improvement.
EN: The phrasal verb 'lead to' means to cause something to happen or to result in a particular outcome. It is followed by a noun or a gerund (verb-ing).
Hard work leads to success.
EN: Comparative adjectives (like 'greater') are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify. Here, 'greater' is the comparative form of 'great', modifying the noun 'achievement'.
EN: The structure 'The + noun + of + noun' is used to form a noun phrase where the first noun represents an action or state, and the second noun (following 'of') is the object or receiver of that action. Here, 'the preservation of culture' means preserving culture.
The protection of the environment requires everyone's effort.
EN: The verb 'matter' is an intransitive verb meaning 'to be important' or 'to have significance'. It is often paired with adverbs of degree like 'deeply' or 'greatly' to emphasize the importance of the subject.
Your opinion matters greatly to the team.
EN: In English-speaking societies, discussions around 'cultural preservation' often carry significant weight, reflecting a growing global awareness of indigenous rights, historical heritage, and the value of diversity in a globalized world.
EN: The use of the preposition 'toward' (or 'towards') to indicate direction, aim, or progress in relation to a goal or change. It is often paired with abstract nouns like 'step', 'progress', or 'attitude'.
Taking this course is a major step toward achieving your career goals.
EN: The linking verb 'is' (copula) connects the subject 'Awareness' with the subject complement 'the first step toward change' to describe or define the subject.
Patience is the key to success.
EN: This sentence is a common philosophical and psychological maxim in English-speaking cultures. It emphasizes self-reflection and mindfulness as prerequisites for personal growth, social reform, or overcoming habits (such as in therapy or recovery programs).
EN: The phrase 'go far beyond' is a phrasal verb structure used to indicate that something has a much greater scope, influence, or value than a specified limit or expectation. 'Far' acts as an intensifier.
The benefits of regular exercise go far beyond weight loss.
EN: Gerunds as Objects of Prepositions: In the phrase 'the value of reading', 'reading' is a gerund (verb+ing acting as a noun) serving as the object of the preposition 'of'. This pattern is commonly used to define the content or nature of an abstract noun.
The art of painting requires patience.
EN: The noun phrase 'The development of...' uses the preposition 'of' to indicate the object of the action implied by the noun. 'Development' is a gerund-like noun, and 'of a curious mind' specifies what is being developed.
The development of new technology requires a lot of funding.
EN: The phrasal verb 'begins with' is used to state the starting point, source, or first step of a process or state.
A healthy lifestyle begins with a balanced diet.
EN: Using a prepositional phrase ('Through reading') at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis. This structure sets the context or means before introducing the main action, often followed by a comma.
Through practice, your English skills will improve.
EN: The use of the adverb 'naturally' to modify the verb 'happens'. Adverbs of manner describe how an action takes place and are often placed after the verb they modify.
The children learned the rules naturally.
EN: Noun clauses starting with 'how' function as noun equivalents. In this sentence, 'how we see the world' acts as the direct object of the transitive verb 'shapes'. It describes the manner or way in which something is done.
Technology changes how we communicate with each other.
EN: Subject-Verb Agreement with Abstract Noun Phrases: When the subject is a complex noun phrase like 'The expansion of our knowledge', the verb must agree with the head noun ('expansion', which is singular), not the noun inside the prepositional phrase ('knowledge'). Therefore, the singular verb 'shapes' is used.
The development of new technologies creates many job opportunities.
EN: The noun phrase 'A lack of' is used to indicate that there is not enough of something. It is followed by an uncountable noun or a plural countable noun, and acts as a singular subject.
A lack of sleep can lead to poor concentration.
EN: The adverb 'however' is used as a parenthetical insertion (conjunctive adverb) to introduce a contrast. When placed in the middle of a sentence, it is set off by commas on both sides.
EN: The noun phrase 'The improvement of...' uses the structure 'Noun + of + Noun' to express a process or state of change. Here, 'improvement' is the head noun, and 'of writing skills' specifies what is being improved.
The development of new technology changes our daily lives.
EN: The phrasal verb 'depend on' means to be decided or influenced by something. In this sentence, 'depends on' is in the simple present tense, and the singular verb form is used because the subject 'The improvement' is singular.
Our success depends on teamwork.
EN: Using a gerund ('Reading') as the subject of a sentence. A gerund is the '-ing' form of a verb that functions as a noun, representing an activity or concept.
Swimming is excellent exercise for the whole body.
EN: The noun phrase 'an awareness of...' is used to describe having knowledge or understanding of a particular subject. It is typically followed by a prepositional phrase starting with 'of'.
The campaign aims to raise an awareness of environmental issues.
EN: The structure 'make + object + adjective' is used to express that someone or something causes a change in state or feeling. In this sentence, 'makes' is the causative verb, 'us' is the object, and 'open-minded' is the object complement (adjective) describing the state of the object.
The good news made everyone happy.
EN: A gerund phrase or a noun phrase (like 'The discovery of new perspectives') functions as a singular subject. Therefore, the main verb 'make' must take the third-person singular form 'makes' to agree with the subject.
The expansion of knowledge opens new doors.
EN: The noun phrase 'the promotion of reading' uses the structure 'the + noun + of + noun' to express an abstract action ('promoting') and its object ('reading'). This is a common way to nominalize actions in formal English.
The protection of the environment requires everyone's effort.
EN: The modal verb 'should' is used to express recommendation or duty, followed by the base form of the verb 'be' to describe a state that is desirable.
Safety should be our main concern.
EN: The structure 'Noun + of + Noun' is used to form complex noun phrases. Here, 'The preservation of this habit' acts as the singular subject of the sentence. Because the head noun 'preservation' is singular and uncountable, the verb 'benefits' must take the third-person singular '-s' ending.
The protection of wild animals requires global cooperation.
EN: The verb 'benefit' can be used transitively, meaning 'to be useful or profitable to someone'. In this pattern, 'benefit + someone + for a lifetime', the prepositional phrase 'for a lifetime' acts as an adverbial of duration, indicating that the positive effect lasts throughout one's entire life.
A good education benefits children for a lifetime.
EN: The phrase 'In short' is a transitional adverbial phrase used to summarize a previous discussion or state a conclusion briefly. It is typically followed by a comma when placed at the beginning of a sentence.
In short, we must reduce our expenses to survive this financial crisis.
EN: Gerund as Subject: The word 'reading' is a gerund (verb + -ing acting as a noun) serving as the subject of the sentence. Gerund subjects are singular and take singular verbs (like 'is').
EN: The concept of 'investing in oneself' or 'investing in one's future' is highly valued in Western culture, emphasizing personal growth, self-improvement, and individual responsibility for one's success.
EN: The structure 'The noun + of + gerund' (e.g., 'The encouragement of reading') functions as a complex noun phrase. Here, 'encouragement' is the head noun, and 'of reading' is a prepositional phrase acting as a post-modifier to specify what kind of encouragement is being referred to.
The preservation of nature is our shared duty.
EN: A restrictive relative clause (adjective clause) can modify a noun without using a relative pronoun (like 'that' or 'which') when the pronoun functions as the object of the clause. In 'a gift we give ourselves', 'we give ourselves' is a relative clause modifying 'gift', with 'that' or 'which' omitted.
The book we read yesterday was very inspiring.
EN: This sentence reflects a common Western educational philosophy that views reading not merely as an academic chore or a tool for passing exams, but as a lifelong act of self-care and personal enrichment. Describing reading as a 'gift' emphasizes intrinsic motivation and personal growth.
EN: The noun phrase pattern 'the noun + of + noun' is used to show possession or relationship, where the first noun is the abstract concept and the second noun is the source or possessor. In this case, 'the importance of teamwork' means how important teamwork is.
The success of the project depends on everyone.
EN: Wh-questions with the verb 'to be' place the question word (What) at the beginning, followed by the verb (is) and then the subject (the importance of teamwork). This is the standard word order for information questions.
What is the capital of France?
EN: In English-speaking professional and educational environments, 'teamwork' is highly valued and frequently discussed. Directly addressing someone by their first name (like 'Emma') at the end of a question is a common way to make the conversation feel personal, friendly, and engaging.
EN: The phrasal verb 'depend on' means to be decided or influenced by something, or to rely on someone/something. In this sentence, it is used in the simple present tense to state a general truth. Note that 'depend' must agree with the singular subject 'The success' by adding '-s'.
Our travel plans depend on the weather.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'of any group' acts as an adjective (adjectival phrase) modifying the noun 'The success'. It specifies which success is being discussed.
The opinion of the teacher is very important.
EN: The phrase 'a lack of [noun]' functions as a singular noun phrase meaning 'not having enough of something'. Because it is singular, it takes a singular verb (e.g., 'leads' with an -s).
A lack of sleep affects our concentration.
EN: The phrasal verb 'lead to' means 'to result in' or 'to cause' something to happen. It is followed by a noun or a gerund (V-ing) representing the result.
Cooperation leads to greater achievement.
EN: This sentence reflects a universal growth mindset valued highly in English-speaking educational and professional cultures, emphasizing that skill acquisition is a direct result of consistent effort rather than just innate talent.
EN: The noun phrase pattern 'The + noun + of + noun' (e.g., 'The protection of the environment') is commonly used to express an action and its receiver in a formal, nominalized way. Here, 'protection' is the action, and 'the environment' is what is being protected.
The preservation of historical buildings is crucial for our culture.
EN: Subject-Verb Agreement with Singular Abstract Nouns: When an abstract noun phrase (like 'The protection of...') acts as the subject, it is treated as singular, requiring a singular verb (adds -s/-es in the simple present tense, hence 'needs').
The development of new technologies creates many job opportunities.
EN: The subject 'Improvement' is an uncountable noun (non-count noun). In English, uncountable nouns representing abstract concepts are treated as singular subjects, which requires the third-person singular verb form (adding '-s' or '-es' in the simple present tense, hence 'requires').
Success demands hard work.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'and' is used to connect two words of the same grammatical category. In this sentence, it connects two uncountable abstract nouns, 'patience' and 'effort', which together function as the compound object of the verb 'requires'.
The project needs time and money.
EN: The noun phrase 'The development of skills' uses the preposition 'of' to show the relationship between the action of developing and the object being developed (skills). In this structure, 'development' is the head noun, which is singular, so it takes the singular verb 'opens'.
The preservation of culture requires effort.
EN: The verb 'open' is used metaphorically here to mean 'to make available' or 'to create' (chances/opportunities). It is a common collocation in business and academic English.
This new policy opens many possibilities for young entrepreneurs.
EN: The subject of this sentence is 'Awareness of others'. In English, when a noun phrase containing a prepositional phrase (like 'of others') acts as the subject, the verb must agree with the head noun ('Awareness', which is singular), not the plural noun inside the prepositional phrase ('others'). Therefore, the singular verb 'builds' is used.
The understanding of different cultures promotes peace.
EN: The word 'others' is a plural pronoun meaning 'other people'. It is used here without a noun following it, functioning as the object of the preposition 'of' to refer to people in general.
We should always be kind to others.
EN: In modern English-speaking discourse, especially regarding emotional intelligence (EQ) and social-emotional learning, 'awareness of others' is highly valued. It goes beyond simple politeness, implying empathy and the active effort to understand other people's feelings and perspectives, which is seen as the foundation of genuine kindness.
EN: The structure 'The noun + of + noun' is used to form a noun phrase where the first noun represents an action or state, and the second noun (following 'of') is the object or receiver of that action. Here, 'the reduction of stress' means reducing stress.
The protection of the environment is crucial.
EN: Subject-Verb Agreement with Singular Abstract Nouns: When the subject of a sentence is a singular abstract noun phrase (like 'The reduction of stress'), the verb must be in the third-person singular form (adds -s/-es in the simple present tense). Here, 'improves' agrees with the singular head noun 'reduction'.
The development of skills takes time.
EN: The use of the simple present tense for general truths. In English, when stating a universal fact, scientific truth, or general principle, the simple present tense is used. Since 'Knowledge' is an uncountable noun, it is treated as singular, requiring the verb 'bring' to take the third-person singular ending '-s' (brings).
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
EN: The infinitive phrase 'to choose' acting as an adjectival modifier. The infinitive 'to + verb' (to choose) can function as an adjective to modify a noun (the freedom). It explains what kind of freedom is being referred to—specifically, the freedom to make choices.
She has the ability to solve complex problems.
EN: This sentence reflects a deeply ingrained Western philosophical value: the connection between education/knowledge and personal autonomy. In English-speaking cultures, 'freedom of choice' is considered a fundamental right, and education is often promoted not just for economic gain, but as a means to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their own lives.
EN: The noun phrase 'The pursuit of growth' uses the structure 'Noun + of + Noun' to express a concept where 'pursuit' is the head noun (the action of chasing) and 'growth' is the object of that action. This functions as the singular subject of the sentence.
The pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human right.
EN: The adverb 'never' is a frequency adverb used to negate the verb. When paired with the adverb 'truly' (meaning sincerely or in fact), it emphasizes that the action of 'ending' absolutely does not happen in reality.
True friendship never truly dies.
EN: This sentence reflects a common Western philosophical mindset focused on continuous self-improvement and lifelong learning (often referred to as a 'growth mindset'). It emphasizes that personal development is a journey rather than a destination.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
A state of not having any or enough of something.
The act of putting money, effort, time, etc. into something to make it as useful or successful as possible.
Willing to consider new ideas or opinions.