# Middle East Conflict - Improve Your English Vocabulary with the News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_a6kBnsgN4

[00:00] Today you'll learn English with the news.
[00:05] We'll read a news article together on the war in the Middle East.
[00:08] Welcome back to GeForce English.
[00:10] Of course, I'm Jennifer.
[00:12] Now, let's get started.
[00:12] Our headline, Trump says US will blockade the straight of Hormuz.
[00:20] So, here notice blockade.
[00:23] This is being used as a verb.
[00:25] You can tell because of the sentence structure.
[00:29] Will blockade.
[00:29] This is what verb tense the future simple.
[00:32] We have will and then the base verb blockade.
[00:37] And I'm explaining that because the word blockade is commonly used as a noun.
[00:41] For example, protesters formed a blockade.
[00:46] Now, in this sentence structure, you know that it's a noun because only nouns take articles.
[00:51] formed a blockade, created a blockade, put up a blockade, and stopped cars from entering the street.
[00:57] Now, a blockade, the noun or to
[01:01] street.
[01:01] Now, a blockade, the noun or to blockade, this is to block.
[01:04] So, to blockade, this is to block.
[01:04] So, to prevent cars or people or goods, goods such as oil, fuel from entering or leaving a specific location.
[01:19] Now the verb block has the same meaning but you might say a tree fell and blocked the road.
[01:29] But a blockade is always done purposely.
[01:33] So to purposely block to prevent people or things from entering or leaving.
[01:39] So it's usually done for political reasons or strategic reasons.
[01:44] So here's the sentence, the same sentence or similar using the verb protesters tried to blockade the street.
[01:51] So try to block, try to create or form a blockade.
[01:56] And notice the pronunciation of this ending is aid.
[01:58] Aid aid.
[01:58] Now because of
[02:04] ending is aid. Aid aid.
[02:07] Now because of the way the syllables will be divided, the way the syllables will be divided, it will sound more like blah cade.
[02:11] So, it will sound more like blah cade.
[02:14] So, you'll hear this K sound on the aid. you'll hear this K sound on the aid.
[02:18] Blockade. Blockade. Blockade. Don't worry about taking notes.
[02:20] I summarize everything in a free lesson PDF.
[02:23] You can find the link in the description.
[02:24] Now, let's keep reading and learn about this blockade.
[02:27] And I just used which form,
[02:29] the noun or the verb?
[02:31] Let's keep reading about this blockade.
[02:35] This. So, you know it's a thing.
[02:37] So, it's a noun.
[02:41] The verb would be let's read about how the US is blockading or is trying to blockade the street of Hormuse.
[02:45] Okay, so let's keep reading.
[02:47] After a diplomatic team led by US Vice President JD Vance tried and failed to reach a negotiated agreement to end the war with Iran.
[02:51] On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced plans
[03:04] President Donald Trump announced plans to block the straight of Hormuz.
[03:07] Now, to block the straight of Hormuz.
[03:10] Now, here, notice they're just using the verb block most likely because we already know it is strategic because they used it in the header.
[03:15] So now, because we know they're talking strategically, you can just simply use block because like I explained, it has the same meaning, just one is done on purpose and strategically.
[03:30] But you could just add the a d spelling and the pronunciation blockade and you could just turn it into the verb.
[03:39] And notice the important information here.
[03:42] Donald Trump announced plans to block.
[03:46] So this is just a plan at this point which makes sense because in the header we saw it was the future simple will blockade.
[03:51] But if you present something more as the future simple, it sounds like it's a planned action will blockade.
[04:00] So this has a slightly different meaning than
[04:06] has a slightly different meaning than saying announce plans to blockade.
[04:09] saying announce plans to blockade because we all know that plans sometimes don't happen in a political context and in an everyday social context or family context as well.
[04:18] So, keep in mind this at this point of the article, it's just a plan.
[04:22] And notice how they added tried and failed to reach a negotiated agreement.
[04:30] Now, the word negotiated is important because it sounds like both parties were involved because the verb is to negotiate.
[04:39] Now, in this sentence structure, what form of word is this?
[04:46] What type of speech is this?
[04:49] Remember I said it can be used as a verb and and as a verb.
[04:55] This could be the past simple.
[04:58] We negotiated an agreement.
[05:01] But that's not the sentence structure because when you have it before the noun, it functions as the
[05:07] it before the noun, it functions as the adjective.
[05:10] And often verbs can become adjectives.
[05:13] And often verbs can become adjectives by adding the ed form.
[05:16] That isn't with every verb though, but that is commonly done.
[05:19] So, a negotiated agreement.
[05:21] Let's review this question.
[05:23] How did the negotiations go?
[05:26] This would be a very common question you can ask in a political context.
[05:27] You would commonly ask in a business context and you can even ask in a family context.
[05:30] You would commonly ask in a business context and you can even ask in a family context.
[05:32] Maybe your sister or a friend just went to negotiate a home deal or the purchase of a new car.
[05:36] Maybe your sister or a friend just went to negotiate a home deal or the purchase of a new car.
[05:39] How did the negotiations go?
[05:43] Now here negotiations this is a noun.
[05:47] Now here negotiations this is a noun.
[05:49] So is treating negotiating the action as a thing.
[05:53] So is treating negotiating the action as a thing.
[05:56] So the negotiations here you can say we negotiated last week but we couldn't reach an agreement.
[05:59] So the negotiations here you can say we negotiated last week but we couldn't reach an agreement.
[06:03] So negotiate is the verb is conjugated in
[06:05] So negotiate is the verb is conjugated in
[06:09] Negotiate is the verb is conjugated in the past simple because we have last.
[06:11] The past simple because we have last week and this is a simple regular verb.
[06:14] Week and this is a simple regular verb.
[06:16] So you have ed d for the past simple.
[06:18] Negotiated.
[06:19] Negotiated.
[06:22] Now reach an agreement.
[06:24] Reach is the verb that is commonly used with agreement.
[06:26] Because agreement is a noun.
[06:30] You also have the article an agreement.
[06:33] You could also say we failed to reach a negotiated agreement.
[06:36] So here negotiated is the adjective.
[06:39] You can tell because of the placement.
[06:40] Like I said, it becomes before the noun.
[06:44] And also notice an agreement or article becomes a because the spelling changes between a and depending on the spelling of the word that immediately follows it, not necessarily the noun.
[06:56] So when you have an article or an adjective directly following the article, that's what you need to base the your choice of a or an on.
[07:06] Are you enjoying this lesson?
[07:09] on.
[07:09] Are you enjoying this lesson?
[07:09] If you are, then I want to tell you about the finally fluent academy.
[07:14] This is my premium training program where we study native English speakers from TV, movies, YouTube, and the news so you can improve your listening skills of fast English.
[07:27] Expand your vocabulary with natural expressions and learn advanced grammar easily.
[07:32] Plus, you'll have me as your personal coach.
[07:35] You can look in the description for the link to learn more or you can go to my website and click on finally fluent academy.
[07:41] Now, let's continue with our lesson.
[07:44] The US military central command announced that the naval blockade.
[07:49] So, here we have the blockade.
[07:53] So it's a noun and same thing naval functions as the adjective.
[07:57] It tells you about the blockade.
[08:00] Now the word naval means relating to the navy and the navy is ships.
[08:11] and the navy is ships.
[08:16] So the naval blockade it would be ships that act as a block.
[08:19] Just like if a tree falls and it blocks the road, the tree is the blockade.
[08:26] So in this case, there could be a ship, a navy or a military ship that blocks other ships.
[08:34] So the naval blockade would stop all ships traveling to or from Iranian ports.
[08:43] Thrron has vowed to retaliate.
[08:47] Okay, so we have very strong wording right here with vowed and retaliate.
[08:55] First, let's review vow.
[09:00] Vow.
[09:04] This is the base verb to vow.
[09:06] Now, this is in the present perfect because it's a completed past action with a result in the present.
[09:11] That's why the present perfect is being used.
[09:13] present perfect is being used.
[09:13] And the past simple, you just add a soft d.
[09:15] past simple, you just add a soft d.
[09:15] vowed.
[09:15] Vowed.
[09:18] vowed.
[09:18] Vowed.
[09:18] Now in the verb form, you might say, "I vowed to protect my family."
[09:22] Now in the verb form, you might say, "I vowed to protect my family."
[09:26] If you vowed to do something, so you need the infinitive to protect, it means you strongly promise or publicly state.
[09:28] vowed to do something, so you need the infinitive to protect, it means you strongly promise or publicly state.
[09:30] infinitive to protect, it means you strongly promise or publicly state.
[09:33] You hear this a lot in movies, in books, and even in everyday speech.
[09:37] hear this a lot in movies, in books, and even in everyday speech.
[09:40] Probably the most common usage in everyday speech is your wedding vows.
[09:43] most common usage in everyday speech is your wedding vows.
[09:46] So in North America, a lot of wedding ceremonies, traditional ones, they use this wording.
[09:48] a lot of wedding ceremonies, traditional ones,
[09:50] ones, they use this wording.
[09:54] they use this wording.
[09:54] I vow, I strongly promise or I publicly state, I vow to take this man as my husband.
[09:57] promise or I publicly state, I vow to take this man as my husband.
[10:01] I vow to love him in sickness and health until death do his part.
[10:05] love him in sickness and health until death do his part.
[10:07] Those are the traditional wedding vows, a small part of them.
[10:09] traditional wedding vows, a small part of them.
[10:09] Now that's the verb.
[10:09] I vow.
[10:15] of them. Now that's the verb. I vow.
[10:15] You can also use it as a noun. A vow.
[10:20] You can also use it as a noun. A vow.
[10:20] And then wedding vows. Vows. That would be a thing.
[10:26] So it's a noun. So some you would write your wedding vows and then maybe you practice your wedding vows and then you have to share your wedding vows on your wedding day.
[10:38] And as the noun you can use the verb make. I made a vow.
[10:43] I made a vow to protect my family.
[10:48] So in this case it is the verb Ton has vowed.
[10:51] Thyron has publicly stated or strongly promised to do something to retaliate against.
[11:01] So the verb is retaliate. Retaliate.
[11:05] E8
[11:07] E8 E8 E8 retaliate
[11:11] E8 E8 retaliate and you retaliate against someone or
[11:15] and you retaliate against someone or something.
[11:16] something. Now the meaning of to retaliate is
[11:20] Now the meaning of to retaliate is I'm going to do something negative to
[11:22] I'm going to do something negative to you. It may hurt you physically. It may
[11:26] you. It may hurt you physically. It may hurt you financially, but it's going to
[11:27] hurt you financially, but it's going to hurt you in some way in a negative way.
[11:31] hurt you in some way in a negative way. and I'm only doing it because you first
[11:36] and I'm only doing it because you first did something to me. So, it's like a
[11:38] did something to me. So, it's like a form of revenge. But to re retaliate
[11:43] form of revenge. But to re retaliate means you're going to take specific
[11:45] means you're going to take specific action to hurt someone in an equal way
[11:51] action to hurt someone in an equal way or more extreme way than they hurt you
[11:54] or more extreme way than they hurt you as a form of punishment against that
[11:57] as a form of punishment against that person. And
[12:00] person. And remember it could be a thing as well.
[12:04] remember it could be a thing as well. You might retaliate against someone's
[12:06] You might retaliate against someone's decision for example. So then the thing
[12:09] decision for example. So then the thing is the decision or the action and you
[12:13] is the decision or the action and you use the preposition against.
[12:16] use the preposition against.
[12:20] Now in this context the consequences of retaliation
[12:21] retaliation retaliation is the noun form.
[12:24] So the consequences of their negative actions of retaliation could be quite severe of course but although the action is always negative it could be just a less severe negative action.
[12:40] Maybe for example the team retaliated.
[12:43] That's the verb in the past simple.
[12:46] The team retaliated after their star player was pushed.
[12:49] So in hockey, if one player pushes the other player, well, that other player is probably going to push the other player.
[12:55] So yes, it's a negative action, but the consequences are less severe.
[12:58] Now, hopefully there's a voice of reason in everyday situations, and someone says, "Don't retaliate.
[13:10] You'll only make things worse."
[13:16] You'll only make things worse.
[13:18] And using the noun, I might say your retaliation, viewing your negative action as a thing, your retaliation will only make things worse.
[13:27] And that's the noun.
[13:31] So Tron has vowed to retaliate.
[13:34] Remember, if you include the someone or something, you need against.
[13:36] In my example, the team retaliated against the other team.
[13:43] It's not always required that you need to include the someone or something.
[13:48] So in this sentence, it's not required because it sounds obvious based on context, but you can absolutely include it.
[13:53] Just remember the preposition is against.
[13:55] Tyrron has vowed to retaliate against any military vessels in the strait.
[14:04] So a vessel is another word for ship, but a vessel could be any style of ship because there may be very specific names other than just ship.
[14:11] Military vessels in the strait.
[14:15] Iran is not a place that can be
[14:19] strait.
[14:22] Iran is not a place that can be contained with tweets and imaginary blockade plans.
[14:26] So remember in the headline it was presented as the future simple.
[14:29] the US will blockade and then later on we saw it was just announced plans to blockade or block.
[14:42] So that plan Iran is suggesting was just made with a tweet on social media.
[14:48] So Iran is not a place that can be contained with tweets and imaginary blockade plans.
[14:53] So, this is basically Iran saying that this may not happen or your threat to blockade us isn't going to prevent us.
[15:07] The government added, "A narrow strip of water between Iran and Oman has once again become the center of global economic anxiety."
[15:17] So that narrow strip of water is the street
[15:21] that narrow strip of water is the street of Hormuse.
[15:23] of Hormuse.
[15:26] So here they use the name instead of describing it as a narrow strip of water.
[15:30] Often articles will do this just so they don't have to repeat the same thing again and again and again.
[15:36] They try to think of other ways of describing it.
[15:39] So a narrow strip of water.
[15:42] The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical energy choke points, is facing fresh disruption risks.
[15:52] So the disruption risk is if there were a blockade that would completely disrupt.
[15:59] So disruption is the noun form of to disrupt.
[16:04] And then a risk is something that may happen, a negative that may happen.
[16:10] Because remember this is at this point of the recording this is a plan to blockade the street of hormuz is facing fresh disruption risks as tensions
[16:22] fresh disruption risks as tensions escalate.
[16:24] So escalate is another way of escalate.
[16:28] So escalate is another way of saying a rise or increase and is commonly used with a conflict or a fight.
[16:37] a disagreement which you could use the the noun tension.
[16:40] So tension describes when people are fighting that uncomfortable feeling that's in the air.
[16:46] that's obvious is tension.
[16:50] So there was a lot of tension between us at the meeting.
[16:56] So you can see the tension visibly.
[16:59] You can sense the tension if that's something that you you're susceptible to.
[17:06] Feeling other people's emotions, which I am.
[17:10] I can sense tension when I walk into a room.
[17:14] As tensions escalate between Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other.
[17:18] So on one side on the other
[17:24] the other.
[17:27] So on one side on the other they're talking about well two sides of any issue any conflict any debate any dispute.
[17:32] Now let's go back and review choke point because I realize I didn't explain that.
[17:36] So the straight of hormuse one of the world's most critical energy choke points.
[17:41] So a choke point is a point in a system, a process or a physical location where the flow can be slowed.
[17:53] Now in transportation it may be simply because something wide becomes narrow before it becomes wide again and that narrow point is a choke point.
[18:07] So you might say don't take that route.
[18:09] The bridge is a choke point.
[18:13] So you have four-lane highway, but then it all goes into this narrow bridge and then it opens up again.
[18:19] So that's physical, a physical choke point.
[18:21] It
[18:25] physical, a physical choke point.
[18:28] It could also be more metaphorical.
[18:30] For example, you might say that question on our survey is a choke point.
[18:34] you have 10 questions on a survey, but every time people get to number four, sometimes they don't like the question and they they leave.
[18:43] They refuse to answer the rest of the survey or answering question four just takes a really long time or it's complicated.
[18:54] Just something about question four.
[18:56] Question one, two, three, everything's fine.
[18:59] But then four, everything slows.
[19:02] So question four is a choke point.
[19:06] Let's keep reading.
[19:09] This situation has raised alarm across energy markets, governments, and investors because of the straits outsized role in global oil and gas trade.
[19:22] So the situation being the proposed plan to blockade the
[19:27] the proposed plan to blockade the strait.
[19:30] So that situation has raised alarm.
[19:32] So this is the verb that you can use with alarm which means to cause alarm to happen and alarm not necessarily meaning at 6 a.m. just concern has raised concern has raised alarm across energy markets governments and investors.
[19:48] So they're talking about different groups of people, not just political because of the Straits outsized role in global oil and gas trade.
[19:59] So if it has an outsized role, it means it's a way bigger role than you would expect given maybe the size of the street because it's tiny or the location or whatever reason, but larger than one would expect is outsized rule.
[20:20] Oil topped $100 a barrel again on Sunday.
[20:25] So 100, no s on 100, but you add
[20:32] Sunday.
[20:32] So 100, no s on 100, but you add the s to dollars and the money sign.
[20:35] the s to dollars and the money sign comes first in North American spelling.
[20:38] comes first in North American spelling convention, but in pronunciation it.
[20:41] convention, but in pronunciation it comes after.
[20:41] So oil topped $100 a barrel.
[20:46] a barrel.
[20:46] Now a means per barrel.
[20:52] So you have one barrel.
[20:54] That's what it means.
[20:54] One barrel.
[20:54] A barrel.
[20:54] Per barrel.
[20:59] The verb top means reach or exceed.
[21:03] It's not clear.
[21:03] So it could be that oil was $100 per barrel or oil was $15 per barrel because it's reach or exceed.
[21:13] per barrel because it's reach or exceed.
[21:17] So you might say the temperature will top 30° today.
[21:19] So 30, but it could be 31 33.
[21:23] So it's commonly used with prices even though it's not a specific reference.
[21:27] and is commonly used with
[21:32] reference.
[21:34] and is commonly used with temperatures or you can use it with any quantity.
[21:35] quantity.
[21:39] Oil topped $100 a barrel again on Sunday.
[21:42] So again meaning it's happened in the past as the blockade threatens to further disrupt the global economy.
[21:49] So they're saying the price of oil increased to or above $100 because of the news of the blockade.
[22:00] So in this case as means because as the blockase threatens to further disrupt.
[22:06] So further meaning there's already disruption.
[22:09] Disruption is the noun form.
[22:12] Disrupt is the verb form.
[22:14] But further disrupt if you further disrupt there has to already be disruption.
[22:20] So, if you're asking me questions in a class and then nobody has their hand up, I might say, "Are there any further questions?"
[22:31] meaning any more questions.
[22:34] meaning any more questions.
[22:36] But at the very beginning, I would just say, "Are there any questions?"
[22:39] Because nobody has asked a question.
[22:42] So, you only use further if that action has already been done in whatever context.
[22:46] So very common.
[22:48] Any further questions?
[22:50] Any further concerns?
[22:53] Any further information you would like?
[22:55] Very commonly used to further disrupt the global economy and keep gas prices elevated.
[22:58] So elevated means higher than normal.
[23:08] The conflict has become a test of wills of Iran's ability to endure continued US and Israeli attacks versus Trump's tolerance for the economic and political pain the war has produced.
[23:27] So in this context wills represents willpower, your strength, your internal strength,
[23:35] your strength, your internal strength, your ability to endure.
[23:39] So that's what we have here.
[23:39] Ability to endure.
[23:42] Now you endure something negative.
[23:45] You don't endure watching Netflix and eating chips.
[23:48] That's easy.
[23:51] So you need willpower to endure running a marathon for example or you need willpower to endure learning a second language.
[24:03] Absolutely.
[24:05] So the expression together a test of wills.
[24:08] You might think it as determination versus determination.
[24:11] So my determination meaning my willpower, my motivation, my ability to endure versus your willpower, motivation, ability to endure.
[24:26] So h if there's a test of wills, who's going to win?
[24:29] I don't know.
[24:31] I have a pretty strong will.
[24:33] What about you?
[24:34] Hopefully you do as well because you need it when you're learning a second language.
[24:34] That's for sure.
[24:37] That's for sure.
[24:37] And that's the end of the article.
[24:40] So what I'll do now is I'll read the article from start to finish and you can focus on my pronunciation.
[24:44] Trump says US will blockade the straight of Hormuz.
[24:47] After a diplomatic team led by US Vice President JD Vance tried and failed to reach a negotiated agreement to end the war with Iran on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced plans to block the straight of Hormuz.
[25:09] The US military central command announced that the naval blockade would stop all ships traveling to or from Iranian ports.
[25:16] Thyrron has vowed to retaliate against any military vessels in the strait.
[25:22] Iran is not a place that can be contained with tweets and imaginary blockade plans.
[25:27] The government added, "A narrow strip of water between Iran and Oman has once again become the center of global economic anxiety.
[25:36] The Straight of Hormuz, one of the world's
[25:38] Straight of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical energy choke points, is facing fresh disruption risks as tensions escalate between Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other.
[25:49] The situation has raised alarm across energy markets, governments, and investors because of the Strait's outsized role in global oil and gas trade.
[26:02] Oil topped $100 a barrel again on Sunday as the blockade threatens to further disrupt the global economy and keep gas prices elevated.
[26:10] The conflict has become a test of wills of Iran's ability to endure continued US and Israeli attacks versus Trump's tolerance for the economic and political pain the war has produced.
[26:23] Do you want to keep learning English with the news?
[26:25] If you do, put let's go. Let's go. Put let's go in the comments.
[26:29] And of course, make sure you like this lesson, share it with your friends, and subscribe so you're notified every time I post a new lesson.
[26:35] And you can get this free speaking guide where I share six tips on how to speak
[26:38] Where I share six tips on how to speak English fluently and confidently.
[26:41] You English fluently and confidently.
[26:42] You can click here to download it or look for the link in the description.
[26:44] And here's another lesson I know you'll love.
[26:46] Watch it now.