Cette page dans ta langue

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

B1 Verb #45 le plus courant 7 min de lecture

explores

To travel through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it, or to examine a subject or idea in detail. It is the third-person singular present form of the verb 'explore'.

Top 45

At the A1 level, you can think of 'explores' as a way to talk about someone looking at new things. Imagine a child in a park. The child explores the grass and the trees. This means the child is looking and learning. It is a simple action of discovery. You use 'explores' when you talk about one person (he, she) or one thing (the cat). For example, 'The cat explores the garden.' It means the cat is walking around and looking at everything. It is a very positive word because it shows someone is curious and wants to learn about the world. Don't worry about big ideas yet; just use it for physical places like a room, a park, or a box.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the A2 level, 'explores' starts to include hobbies and travel. You might say, 'My friend explores new cities every summer.' This means your friend goes to new places to see the sights and learn about the culture. You can also use it for simple interests. 'She explores different types of music on the internet.' Here, she is not traveling with her feet, but she is 'traveling' with her ears to find new songs. It is important to remember the 's' at the end when you talk about one person. It is a step up from 'looks at' because it means the person is spending more time and really trying to understand what they see.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the B1 level, 'explores' becomes very useful for talking about books, movies, and school subjects. This is the level where you move from physical places to abstract ideas. You might read a sentence like, 'The book explores the theme of friendship.' This doesn't mean the book is walking; it means the writer is using the story to help us understand friendship. You will also see it in news reports. 'The report explores why prices are rising.' As a B1 learner, you should start using 'explores' in your essays to show that you are looking at a topic from different sides. It is a more professional and academic word than 'talks about'.

At the B2 level, you should use 'explores' to describe complex investigations and systematic research. It is a key word for academic and professional contexts. You might say, 'The study explores the long-term effects of social media on teenage mental health.' This implies a rigorous, scientific process. You can also use it in business: 'The company explores various strategies to increase its market share.' At this level, you understand that 'explores' suggests a thorough search where the outcome is not yet certain. It is about the process of inquiry. You should be able to use it fluently in both speaking and writing to describe any deep investigation.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the C1 level, 'explores' is used to describe nuanced and sophisticated inquiries. You might use it to discuss philosophy, high-level art, or complex social issues. For example, 'The director explores the liminal space between reality and dreams.' Here, 'explores' carries a heavy intellectual weight. It suggests a delicate and detailed examination of a very specific, perhaps difficult, concept. You will find it in literary criticism and advanced scientific journals. At this level, you should be able to distinguish 'explores' from synonyms like 'scrutinizes' or 'dissects', choosing 'explores' when you want to emphasize the expansive and investigative nature of the work.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the C2 level, 'explores' is a tool for precise expression in highly specialized fields. You might use it to describe the way a complex system or a mathematical model functions. 'The algorithm explores billions of possibilities in a fraction of a second.' It can also be used metaphorically in high-level rhetoric to describe the movement of thought itself. 'The speaker explores the very foundations of our democratic institutions.' At this level, you are expected to use the word with perfect grammatical accuracy and in contexts that show a deep understanding of its connotations of thoroughness, curiosity, and systematic investigation.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

explores en 30 secondes

Explores is a verb used for singular subjects (he/she/it) to describe the act of investigating a place or an idea in detail.
It can refer to physical travel through unknown areas, like a scientist in a cave or a rover on a distant planet.
It is frequently used in academic and creative writing to describe the deep analysis of themes, topics, or research questions.
The word implies a process of discovery and systematic searching rather than just a quick look or a random find.

The word explores is a versatile verb that functions as the third-person singular present form of 'explore'. At its core, it describes the act of investigating, searching, or traveling through a space or a concept to discover new information. In a physical sense, it refers to a person or entity moving through an unfamiliar geographic area. For instance, a rover on Mars explores the dusty plains to find signs of water. However, in modern English, it is perhaps even more common in an intellectual or creative context. Authors, researchers, and speakers use it to describe the deep examination of a topic. When we say a documentary explores the history of jazz, we mean it looks at the subject from many angles, uncovering details that aren't immediately obvious.

Physical Investigation: To travel through an unknown area to learn about its features or inhabitants.
Intellectual Examination: To analyze a subject, idea, or theory in great detail to understand its nuances.
Systematic Testing: To try out different options or features in a software program or a new system.

The scientist explores the deep-sea trenches using a remote-operated vehicle.

This new novel explores the complex relationship between technology and human emotion.

The curriculum explores various periods of ancient history in the first semester.

A curious toddler explores every corner of the living room with wide eyes.

The software developer explores different coding architectures to find the most efficient solution.

People use this word when they want to emphasize the process of discovery. It suggests that the outcome isn't necessarily known at the start. Whether it is a detective who explores a lead or a philosopher who explores the meaning of life, the word carries a sense of curiosity and systematic searching. It is frequently found in book reviews, academic abstracts, travel writing, and scientific reports. It elevates the tone of a sentence by suggesting a deeper level of engagement than simple 'looking'.

Using explores correctly requires attention to the subject of the sentence. Because it is the third-person singular form, it must follow a singular noun or pronoun. For example, 'The author explores' is correct, while 'The authors explores' is incorrect. This word often takes a direct object—the thing being investigated. You can explore a place (physical) or explore an idea (abstract).

With Abstract Nouns: The report explores the possibility of economic growth in the region.
With Physical Locations: The hiker explores the hidden trails of the national park every weekend.
With Questions: The documentary explores how climate change affects local farmers.

She explores the city's architecture through her photography.

The professor explores the theme of identity in 19th-century literature.

Each chapter explores a different aspect of the human brain.

It is also useful in the 'explores the way' or 'explores how' constructions. For example, 'The study explores how sleep impacts memory.' This is a standard way to introduce research goals. In business, one might say, 'The company explores new markets,' indicating an intention to expand. The word implies a systematic, often professional, effort. It is less about 'finding' (the result) and more about the 'searching' (the process). If you find something by accident, you didn't explore it; if you look for it carefully, you did.

You will encounter explores in a variety of high-level contexts. In journalism, a reporter might say, 'Our next segment explores the rise of urban gardening.' This tells the viewer to expect a detailed look at the topic. In the world of technology, product descriptions often state, 'This app explores the potential of augmented reality,' suggesting that the software is innovative and experimental.

In Academic Abstracts: This paper explores the correlation between social media use and attention spans.
In Travel Documentaries: The host explores the vibrant street food culture of Bangkok.
In Literary Criticism: The critic argues that the poet explores themes of loss and redemption.

National Geographic often explores the most remote corners of our planet.

The museum's latest exhibit explores the evolution of fashion over three centuries.

It is a favorite word of educators. A teacher might say, 'Today, our lesson explores the causes of the French Revolution.' By using 'explores' instead of 'teaches', the educator invites the students to be active participants in the discovery process. It is also common in corporate strategy meetings where a leader might say, 'Our team explores every avenue for cost reduction.' Here, it signals thoroughness and diligence. In everyday conversation, it might sound a bit formal, but it is perfectly natural when talking about books, movies, or travel plans.

One of the most frequent errors with explores is subject-verb agreement. Because it ends in 's', many learners mistakenly use it with plural subjects, thinking the 's' indicates plurality. However, in English verbs, the 's' indicates a singular subject (he/she/it).

Incorrect Plurality: 'The scientists explores the cave' (Incorrect) vs 'The scientist explores the cave' (Correct).
Confusing with 'Search': You 'search for' a lost key, but you 'explore' a room. 'Explore' doesn't usually take the preposition 'for'.
Misusing with 'About': Avoid saying 'explores about the topic'. It should be 'explores the topic'.

Correct: The article explores the impact of social media.

Incorrect: The article explores about the impact of social media.

Another mistake is using 'explores' when the action is too shallow. If you just glance at something, you aren't exploring it. Exploration implies depth. Don't say 'He explores the clock to see the time.' Say 'He looks at the clock.' Reserve 'explores' for when someone is taking the clock apart to see how it works. Finally, ensure the context is appropriate. While you can explore a city, saying you 'explore a sandwich' sounds strange unless you are a food scientist analyzing its molecular structure.

Depending on the context, you might want to replace explores with a more specific synonym. In academic writing, 'examines' or 'analyzes' are common alternatives. In a physical context, 'scouts' or 'investigates' might be better.

Examines: Focuses on looking at something very closely to see its condition or quality.
Investigates: Often used in the context of solving a mystery or finding the cause of a problem.
Probes: Suggests a very deep, sometimes uncomfortable, level of questioning or searching.

The detective investigates the crime scene for clues.

The essay analyzes the economic impact of the new law.

If you are talking about travel, 'tours' or 'navigates' could work. However, 'tours' implies a pre-planned route, whereas 'explores' implies going off the beaten path. In a creative sense, 'delves into' is a great phrasal verb alternative. 'The movie delves into the protagonist's childhood.' This gives a sense of going deep into a dark or hidden place. Choosing the right word depends on whether you want to emphasize the scientific nature (investigates), the detailed nature (examines), or the adventurous nature (explores) of the action.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

"The dissertation explores the socio-economic factors of the region."

Neutre

"The travel guide explores the best beaches in Italy."

Informel

"My kid explores every single cupboard in the house."

Child friendly

"The little bear explores the forest for honey."

Argot

"He explores the scene to see who's there."

Le savais-tu ?

The 'plorare' part of the word is the same root as 'deplore' (to cry out in grief). So, exploring was originally a very noisy activity!

Guide de prononciation

UK /ɪkˈsplɔːz/

US /ɪkˈsplɔːrz/

The stress is on the second syllable: ik-SPLORES.

Rime avec

doors floors roars shores scores pours soars boars

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the 's' as an 's' instead of a 'z'.
Putting the stress on the first syllable.
Dropping the 'r' sound in American English.
Confusing the 'o' sound with 'ow' (as in 'flowers').
Forgetting to pronounce the 'k' in 'ex'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 3/5

Easy to recognize in context, but requires understanding of 3rd person singular.

Écriture 4/5

Common mistakes with subject-verb agreement (adding/dropping 's').

Expression orale 3/5

Natural to use when describing books or travel.

Écoute 2/5

Clear pronunciation, though the final 'z' sound can be soft.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

explore look find travel study

Apprends ensuite

investigates analyzes exploration exploratory discovery

Avancé

scrutinizes dissects interrogates delves navigates

Grammaire à connaître

Third Person Singular -s

He explores (Correct) vs He explore (Incorrect).

Present Simple for General Truths

The sun explores the sky every day (Metaphorical).

Transitive Verbs

She explores the cave (Requires an object).

Gerunds as Subjects

Exploring is fun, but he explores for work.

Subject-Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns

The team explores (Singular team) vs The members explore (Plural members).

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Exemples par niveau

The boy explores the big park.

Le garçon explore le grand parc.

Third-person singular 's' added to 'explore'.

My cat explores the new house.

Mon chat explore la nouvelle maison.

Subject 'My cat' is singular.

She explores the toy box.

Elle explore la boîte à jouets.

Pronoun 'She' requires the 's' ending.

The baby explores the kitchen floor.

Le bébé explore le sol de la cuisine.

Present simple tense for a regular action.

He explores the garden every day.

Il explore le jardin chaque jour.

Frequency adverb 'every day' used with present simple.

The dog explores the forest.

Le chien explore la forêt.

Singular animal subject.

She explores her new bedroom.

Elle explore sa nouvelle chambre.

Possessive adjective 'her' used.

The bird explores the birdhouse.

L'oiseau explore le nichoir.

Simple subject-verb-object structure.

He explores the city with a map.

Il explore la ville avec une carte.

Prepositional phrase 'with a map' adds detail.

She explores different cultures through food.

Elle explore différentes cultures à travers la nourriture.

Abstract use of 'explores' for learning.

The student explores the library for books.

L'étudiant explore la bibliothèque pour des livres.

Purpose clause 'for books'.

My brother explores the mountains on weekends.

Mon frère explore les montagnes le week-end.

Plural noun 'mountains' as object.

The robot explores the surface of the moon.

Le robot explore la surface de la lune.

Scientific context.

She explores new recipes in the kitchen.

Elle explore de nouvelles recettes dans la cuisine.

Exploration as a hobby.

The traveler explores the local market.

Le voyageur explore le marché local.

Singular human subject.

He explores the internet for information.

Il explore Internet pour des informations.

Digital exploration.

The documentary explores the life of bees.

Le documentaire explore la vie des abeilles.

Abstract subject 'The documentary'.

This book explores the history of art.

Ce livre explore l'histoire de l'art.

Common use in literary descriptions.

The professor explores the causes of the war.

Le professeur explore les causes de la guerre.

Academic investigation.

She explores the idea of moving abroad.

Elle explore l'idée de partir à l'étranger.

Explores an 'idea' (abstract noun).

The article explores how to save money.

L'article explore comment économiser de l'argent.

Explores a 'how' clause.

He explores his options before making a choice.

Il explore ses options avant de faire un choix.

Explores 'options' (decision making).

The museum explores the impact of technology.

Le musée explore l'impact de la technologie.

Institution as subject.

The podcast explores true crime stories.

Le podcast explore des histoires de crimes réels.

Media as subject.

The research explores the link between diet and health.

La recherche explore le lien entre l'alimentation et la santé.

Formal academic tone.

The film explores the psychological effects of isolation.

Le film explore les effets psychologiques de l'isolement.

Analyzing complex themes.

The government explores new ways to reduce pollution.

Le gouvernement explore de nouvelles façons de réduire la pollution.

Policy investigation.

The architect explores sustainable building materials.

L'architecte explore des matériaux de construction durables.

Professional exploration.

The essay explores the nuances of human language.

L'essai explore les nuances du langage humain.

Focus on 'nuances'.

The company explores potential partnerships in Asia.

L'entreprise explore des partenariats potentiels en Asie.

Strategic business use.

The software explores all possible outcomes of the simulation.

Le logiciel explore tous les résultats possibles de la simulation.

Technical/Computational use.

The journalist explores the corruption within the system.

Le journaliste explore la corruption au sein du système.

Investigative journalism.

The philosopher explores the ethical implications of AI.

Le philosophe explore les implications éthiques de l'IA.

High-level conceptual analysis.

The novel explores the disintegration of the nuclear family.

Le roman explore la désintégration de la famille nucléaire.

Sophisticated literary theme.

The study explores the intersection of race and class.

L'étude explore l'intersection de la race et de la classe.

Sociological terminology.

The artist explores the boundaries between form and void.

L'artiste explore les frontières entre la forme et le vide.

Artistic theory.

The report explores the systemic failures of the healthcare system.

Le rapport explore les défaillances systémiques du système de santé.

Systemic analysis.

The theory explores the possibility of parallel universes.

La théorie explore la possibilité d'univers parallèles.

Theoretical physics context.

The poet explores the ephemeral nature of beauty.

Le poète explore la nature éphémère de la beauté.

Abstract philosophical theme.

The analysis explores the underlying causes of the economic crash.

L'analyse explore les causes sous-jacentes du krach économique.

In-depth economic review.

The monograph explores the ontological status of fictional entities.

La monographie explore le statut ontologique des entités fictionnelles.

Highly specialized academic jargon.

The symphony explores the tonal possibilities of the microtonal scale.

La symphonie explore les possibilités tonales de l'échelle microtonale.

Technical music theory.

The legal brief explores the constitutional validity of the new law.

Le mémoire juridique explore la validité constitutionnelle de la nouvelle loi.

Precise legal terminology.

The discourse explores the semiotics of urban architecture.

Le discours explore la sémiotique de l'architecture urbaine.

Post-structuralist terminology.

The research explores the epigenetic markers associated with stress.

La recherche explore les marqueurs épigénétiques associés au stress.

Advanced biological science.

The critique explores the dialectical tension between labor and capital.

La critique explore la tension dialectique entre le travail et le capital.

Marxist political theory.

The paper explores the computational complexity of the algorithm.

L'article explore la complexité computationnelle de l'algorithme.

Theoretical computer science.

The narrative explores the fluid boundaries of memory and identity.

Le récit explore les frontières fluides de la mémoire et de l'identité.

Nuanced psychological narrative.

Collocations courantes

explores the possibility

explores the theme

explores the relationship

explores the world

explores the options

explores the concept

explores the depths

explores the history

explores the impact

explores the potential

Phrases Courantes

explores every avenue

explores the unknown

explores the boundaries

explores the nuances

explores the landscape

explores the implications

explores the role of

explores the connection

explores the feasibility

explores the variety

Souvent confondu avec

explores vs searches

Searching is usually for a specific lost item; exploring is for general discovery.

explores vs discovers

Discovery is the end result; exploring is the process.

explores vs travels

Traveling is just moving; exploring is moving with the intent to learn.

Expressions idiomatiques

"leave no stone unturned"

To explore every single possibility in a search.

The investigator will leave no stone unturned as he explores the case.

informal

"chart unknown territory"

To explore a completely new area or subject.

The scientist is charting unknown territory as she explores this new virus.

neutral

"scratch the surface"

To only explore a small, superficial part of a topic.

This introductory course only scratches the surface; the next one explores the details.

informal

"go down the rabbit hole"

To explore a topic so deeply that it becomes complex or distracting.

He explores the history of the internet and goes down a real rabbit hole.

slang

"test the waters"

To explore a situation cautiously before committing.

The company explores the market by testing the waters with a small product launch.

informal

"poke around"

To explore in a casual, slightly disorganized way.

She explores the antique shop, just poking around for something interesting.

informal

"break new ground"

To explore something in a way that has never been done before.

His research explores new ground in the field of quantum physics.

neutral

"get the lay of the land"

To explore an area to understand the situation.

Before the meeting, he explores the office to get the lay of the land.

informal

"look high and low"

To explore every possible place for something.

She explores the house, looking high and low for her lost ring.

informal

"probe the depths"

To explore the most profound or hidden parts of something.

The therapist explores the depths of the patient's subconscious.

formal

Facile à confondre

explores vs search

Both involve looking for something.

You search 'for' a specific object. You explore a whole area to see what is there.

He searches for his keys, but he explores the new city.

explores vs examine

Both involve looking closely.

Examine is often stationary and very detailed. Explore often involves movement through a space.

The doctor examines the wound, while the scientist explores the jungle.

explores vs investigate

Both are used in research.

Investigate often implies a crime or a specific problem to solve. Explore is more open-ended.

The police investigate the theft, while the historian explores the archives.

explores vs survey

Both involve looking at an area.

Surveying is often for mapping or measuring. Exploring is for discovery.

The engineer surveys the land, while the hiker explores the valley.

explores vs inspect

Both involve close looking.

Inspect is to check for flaws or rules. Explore is to learn something new.

The officer inspects the car, while the child explores the trunk.

Structures de phrases

Subject + explores + Place

The boy explores the park.

Subject + explores + Noun + with + Tool

He explores the city with a map.

Subject + explores + the theme of + Noun

The book explores the theme of love.

Subject + explores + how + Clause

The study explores how plants grow.

Subject + explores + the intersection of + Noun + and + Noun

The essay explores the intersection of art and politics.

Subject + explores + the ontological/epistemological + Noun

The paper explores the ontological status of time.

Subject + explores + the possibility of + Gerund

The team explores the possibility of moving.

Subject + explores + the implications of + Noun

The report explores the implications of the law.

Famille de mots

Noms

Verbes

Adjectifs

Apparenté

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour voir tous les exemples

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very high in academic, journalistic, and travel contexts.

Erreurs courantes

The students explores the lab. → The students explore the lab.
The subject 'students' is plural, so the verb should not have an 's'.
She explores about the history. → She explores the history.
The verb 'explore' is transitive and does not need the preposition 'about'.
He explore the new park. → He explores the new park.
The subject 'He' is third-person singular, so the verb needs an 's'.
The book explores on the theme of war. → The book explores the theme of war.
Do not use 'on' after 'explores'.
Does she explores the cave? → Does she explore the cave?
In a question with 'does', use the base form of the verb without the 's'.

Astuces

The S-Rule

Always check your subject. If it is one person or thing (excluding 'I' and 'you'), add the 's'. 'The explorer explores.'

Beyond 'Talks About'

In your writing, replace 'This book is about' with 'This book explores'. It makes your writing sound more academic.

Physical vs. Mental

Use 'explores' for both hiking in the woods and thinking about a difficult problem. It works for both!

Avoid 'About'

Never put 'about' after 'explores'. Just go straight to the object: 'She explores the options.'

The 'Z' Sound

The 's' at the end of 'explores' sounds like a 'z'. Practice saying 'ik-splorz' to sound like a native speaker.

Abstract Subjects

Don't forget that a 'study', a 'report', or a 'chapter' can be the subject. 'Chapter 5 explores the results.'

Key Information

When you hear 'explores', pay close attention to the next word. That is the main topic of the discussion.

Abstract Nouns

Look for abstract nouns like 'themes', 'concepts', or 'implications' after 'explores' in academic texts.

Open-Ended

Use 'explores' when you don't know the answer yet. It's about the journey of finding out.

The Explorer

Associate 'explores' with a famous explorer like Marco Polo. He explores the world.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of an 'Explorer' with a 'S'uper 'S'pyglass. The 'S' at the end of 'explores' is for the 'S'ingular person using the 'S'pyglass.

Association visuelle

Imagine a single scientist (singular) looking through a microscope at a tiny world. She 'explores' the cells.

Word Web

Travel Search Analyze Discover Map Study Question Venture

Défi

Write three sentences about what a robot explores on a distant planet, making sure to use the 's' correctly.

Origine du mot

Derived from the Latin 'explorare', which originally meant 'to scout' or 'to search out'. It was often used in a hunting context, where scouts would 'cry out' (ex- 'out' + plorare 'to cry') to flush out game.

Sens originel : To search out or investigate, specifically by shouting or making noise to see what responds.

Romance (Latin origin via Old French).

Contexte culturel

Be mindful when using 'explores' in a colonial context; 'exploring' lands that were already inhabited by indigenous people is a sensitive historical topic.

In the US and UK, 'explores' is a very positive word associated with progress and education.

Dora the Explorer (though she 'explores', the title is a noun). National Geographic: 'Explores the world'. NASA: 'Explores the universe'.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Academic Research

The study explores...
This paper explores...
The author explores...
The research explores...

Travel and Tourism

The tour explores...
The guide explores...
The traveler explores...
The documentary explores...

Literature and Art

The novel explores...
The poem explores...
The artist explores...
The film explores...

Technology and Business

The company explores...
The app explores...
The developer explores...
The strategy explores...

Nature and Science

The scientist explores...
The rover explores...
The expedition explores...
The biologist explores...

Amorces de conversation

"What is a topic that your favorite book explores in depth?"

"If a robot explores another planet, what should it look for first?"

"How does a documentary you've seen explores the problem of climate change?"

"Do you know a person who explores new places every weekend?"

"In your opinion, which movie explores human emotions most effectively?"

Sujets d'écriture

Describe a time you watched a documentary that explores a topic you knew nothing about.

Write about a character in a story who explores a mysterious hidden room.

How does your favorite hobby explores different parts of your personality?

If you wrote a book, what is one social issue it explores?

Describe how a scientist explores the deep ocean in a small submarine.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, it is very common for abstract ideas. For example, 'The book explores the concept of time.' This means the book studies the idea deeply.

No, you should say 'He explores the city.' The verb 'explore' does not need the word 'about'.

Use 'explore' for I, you, we, and they. Use 'explores' for he, she, it, or a single name like 'John' or 'The company'.

It is neutral to formal. It is very common in school and work, but also okay to use at home.

Yes, animals are often the subject of this verb, like a cat exploring a garden or a bird exploring a nest.

Use 'does' and the base form: 'Does he explore the cave?' You don't use the 's' in the question.

Words like 'ignores', 'neglects', or 'overlooks' are the opposite because they mean not looking at something.

Yes, in technology we say a program explores data or an algorithm explores possibilities.

The past tense is 'explored'. 'He explored the cave yesterday.'

Because it sounds more professional than 'is about'. It suggests the book is smart and deep.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour les astuces et notes