Choice of Words:The is a definite article, moon is a noun, was is a verb, and shining is a verb.
Alternative Expressions
The moon was glowing.
Meaning: This means that the moon was giving off a soft light in the sky.
Choice of Words: **Glowing** also means to give off light, but it's a different word than shining. You might say that the moon is glowing when it's not as bright as usual.
The moon was beaming.
Meaning: This means that the moon was shining very brightly in the sky.
Choice of Words: **Beaming** means to shine very brightly. You might say that the moon is beaming when it's full and very bright.