Afghanistan: 6.3 quake near Mazar-i-Sharif kills at least 20; hundreds of homes damaged.
AI-powered article analysis with grammar and vocabulary notes.
It is yet another devastating start to the week as a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif on Monday.
Target sentence
- Subject (S)It — dummy/expletive subject introducing a clause.
- Verb (V)is — linking verb.
- Subject Complement (SC)yet another devastating start to the week — the evaluation of the current situation.
- Modifier (M)as a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif on Monday — as-clause giving the cause/time context. Inside it: S=a … earthquake; V=struck; C=near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif; M(time)=on Monday.
devastating
Definition
Causing great damage or destruction.
Example
The hurricane had a devastating impact on the coastal towns.
magnitude
Definition
The size, extent, or importance of something, often measured on a specific scale, such as the brightness of stars or the energy released by earthquakes.
Example
The magnitude of the earthquake was measured at 7.0 on the Richter scale.
earthquake
Definition
A sudden shaking of the ground caused by movements in the Earth's crust, often resulting in damage.
Example
The earthquake caused significant damage to the buildings in the city.
struck
Definition
Affected or closed due to a labor strike, where workers stop working to protest or demand changes.
Example
The factory was struck, leaving many workers without jobs for the time being.
northern
Definition
Relating to or located in the direction of the north; often used to describe areas, regions, or characteristics that are found in the northern part of a place.
Example
The northern lights are a beautiful natural phenomenon that can be seen in the Arctic regions.
At least 20 people were killed and 643 were injured, 25 of them seriously, according to preliminary figures from the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, with the death toll likely to rise.
Target sentence
- Subject (S)(implied plural) — 20 people (killed) and 643 (injured) serve as the logical subjects within coordinated passive clauses.
- Verb (V)were killed and were injured — coordinated passive verbs reporting outcomes.
- Additive Detail25 of them seriously — parenthetical apposition specifying severity among the injured.
- Source Modifier (M)according to preliminary figures from the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority — prepositional phrase giving attribution + data status.
- Supplement (M)with the death toll likely to rise — with-phrase + adjective phrase (likely) + infinitive (to rise) indicating expected change.
preliminary
Definition
Something that comes before the main event or action, often serving as an introduction or preparation.
Example
The preliminary results of the study were promising, leading to further research.
authority
Definition
The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. It can also refer to a person or organization that has control or influence in a specific area.
Example
The teacher has the authority to assign homework and manage the classroom.
toll
Definition
To make a sound in a slow and repeated manner, often referring to a bell or similar instrument.
Example
The church bell tolled at midnight, signaling the start of the new year.
injured
Definition
To have caused physical harm or damage to someone or something.
Example
He injured his leg while playing soccer.
seriously
Definition
In a way that shows you are serious or sincere about something.
Example
I am seriously considering moving to another city for a new job.
The earthquake in Afghanistan is the latest disaster to hit a climate-vulnerable nation after the Caribbean was struck by a powerful Category 5 hurricane last week – the strongest-ever storm to directly hit Jamaica’s shores – and the first major hurricane to do so since 1988. At least 28 people died there.
Target sentence(s)
- Subject (S)The earthquake in Afghanistan — head noun earthquake + locative PP.
- Verb (V)is — linking verb.
- Subject Complement (SC)the latest disaster to hit a climate-vulnerable nation — evaluative NP + infinitive of purpose/result (to hit modifies disaster).
- Temporal/Contrast Mafter the Caribbean was struck by a powerful Category 5 hurricane last week — after + passive clause establishing sequence.
- Dash Apposition— the strongest-ever storm to directly hit Jamaica’s shores — superlative appositive giving a record fact.
- Coord. Appositionand the first major hurricane to do so since 1988 — coordinated NP; to do so = pro-form referring to “directly hit Jamaica’s shores.”
- Second sentenceAt least 28 people (S) + died (V) + there (M: place reference).
Sentence pattern 2: [Quantified S] + V + (place adverb)
category
Definition
A group or class that shares common characteristics or qualities, used to organize or categorize similar items or ideas.
Example
The library has a section for each category of books, including fiction, non-fiction, and reference.
hurricane
Definition
Not a valid English word.
Example
Not available
shores
Definition
The land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other large body of water.
Example
We walked along the shores of the lake, enjoying the beautiful view.
major
Definition
Significant in size, importance, or effect; greater than others in rank or degree.
Example
The major changes in the policy will affect everyone in the organization.
The destruction left by Hurricane Melissa has stirred fears that Jamaica, a country of 2.8 million people, could face shortages of food staples as farmers struggle to recover and replant.
Target sentence
- Subject (S)The destruction left by Hurricane Melissa — head noun destruction + past participle modifier (left by…).
- Verb (V)has stirred — present perfect, showing effect continuing into the present.
- Object (O)fears — what has been stirred.
- Content Clause (C)that Jamaica, a country of 2.8 million people, could face shortages of food staples — that-clause as the content of “fears”; appositive NP gives population detail; could face expresses possibility.
- Causal/Temporal Modifier (M)as farmers struggle to recover and replant — as-clause indicating simultaneous cause/condition; struggle + to-infinitives mark ongoing difficulty.
destruction
Definition
The act or process of causing something to be completely ruined or eliminated.
Example
The hurricane caused widespread destruction in the coastal towns.
shortages
Definition
A situation where there is not enough of something that is needed or wanted.
Example
The recent shortages of food have caused concern among the population.
staples
Definition
Small metal or plastic fasteners used to hold sheets of paper together.
Example
I need to buy some staples for my office to keep my documents organized.
fears
Definition
A strong feeling of worry or anxiety about something that might happen.
Example
She has many fears about the future.
farmers
Definition
People who grow crops or raise animals for food and other products.
Example
The farmers worked hard to harvest their crops before the rain came.
The disasters come as Brazil is set to open three weeks of events linked to the United Nations COP30 climate summit, hoping to showcase a world still determined to tackle global warming.
Target sentence
- Main Clause (S)The disasters — plural subject.
- Main Clause (V)come — present, reporting current context.
- Subordinatoras — introduces a time/ circumstance clause.
- Subordinate SBrazil
- Subordinate V + Cis set to open — be + set + to-infinitive (planned/arranged future).
- Object (O)three weeks of events — head noun events with measure phrase; post-modifier: linked to the United Nations COP30 climate summit.
- Supplementhoping to showcase a world still determined to tackle global warming — non-finite -ing clause expressing Brazil’s purpose/stance. Inside: V=showcase ; O=a world ; Complement=still determined ; Infinitive purpose=to tackle global warming.
summit
Definition
To reach the highest point of something, especially a mountain or hill.
Example
After a long hike, we finally summited the mountain and enjoyed the breathtaking view.
showcase
Definition
A container or area used to display items, often in a way that highlights their features or makes them look appealing.
Example
The artist set up a showcase to display her latest paintings.
determined
Definition
Having a strong intention to achieve something and not giving up easily.
Example
She was determined to finish the race, no matter how tired she felt.
tackle
Definition
To try to deal with a problem or challenge, often by taking action.
Example
The team needs to tackle the issue of poor communication.