VOA日常语法2024--What Is Popular in Different Countries?

What Is Popular in Different Countries?

　　In a recent lesson, we asked our readers and listeners to write to us about what is popular in their country.

　　In today's lesson, we will explore some of what was written to us. Our audience will be the guides of our imaginative¹ tour of cultures around the world. We will learn about English grammar on the way.

　　Turkey

　　Let's start with a message from a friend in Turkey.

　　Greetings from Turkey, I am Furkan.

　　I think, Kıvanc Tatlıtug is a popular in Turkey. Because the whole country knows him.

　　Furkan wrote a very clear message. Our main suggestion is to remove a couple of words and add a little more explanation.

　　We can take out the words "I think." We can also remove the part about the "whole country knows him."

　　When we say someone is popular, we can assume² that many or most people in a place know about the person.

　　You could also explain a little more deeply why Kivanc Tatlitug is popular. For example, you might say he is handsome, talented, and so on.

　　So, you might update the message to something like this:

　　Kıvanc Tatlıtug is popular in Turkey because he is handsome, talented, and wealthy.

　　Venezuela

　　Now let's examine part of a message from Gorka in Venezuela. Gorka says this about baseball, a popular sport in the country:

　　... this sport is practiced by people of all ages and in all the states of the country. There are many baseball schools, some of them sponsored⁴ by American baseball organizations.

　　Every year more that one hundred Venezuelan baseball players go to USA to play in the MLB or other related⁵ leagues.

　　Not surprisingly these players inspire younger baseball players to follow their steps.

　　Gorka wrote an excellent description. Our main suggestion is to pay careful attention to short words.

　　Instead of "that" we can use "than," as in "more than one hundred Venezuelan baseball players." And we want to add "the" in front of "USA" like this:

　　Every year, more than one hundred Venezuelan baseball players go to the USA to play in the MLB or other related leagues.

　　A final word about the last sentence from Gorka. While it is correct to say "follow their steps," in this situation, we often say "follow in their footsteps⁶." We use "follow in their footsteps" when someone does something before us and we follow what they did. For example:

　　If your father is a doctor and you become a doctor, you could say that you are following in your father's footsteps.

　　Japan

　　Now let's turn to Japan. An unnamed reader sent us this note about a popular food.

　　Most popular food in Japan is RAMEN. I think because Ramen has huge kinds of taste.

　　The message is clear and to the point. Once again, we need to pay special attention to short words and remove a few other words. We need to include the word "the" at the beginning of the message, as in:

　　The most popular food in Japan is ramen.

　　While the meaning of "huge kinds of taste" is understandable, we might instead use different structures to express the same idea. For example, English speakers might say that the taste is complex, bold⁷, or rich. We might update the entire message to something like this:

　　The most popular food in Japan is ramen because it has a rich, complex taste.

　　Spain

　　Finally, Rafael from Spain writes to us. He notes that he does not like the most popular sport, soccer. Rafael ends his message with the following:

　　... Since I don't like soccer, I feel a little weirdo. But not as much as you, John, who are in love with grammar!

　　Thank you very much for your teaching⁸, John,

　　See you soon!

　　Rafael wrote a very light-hearted, humorous message. The main correction needed is to add the word "like" after the verb "feel" and remove the word "little." So, the statement could become:

　　Since I don't like soccer, I feel like a weirdo.

　　A quick note about the term "weirdo." We often use it in a negative, or disapproving⁹, way. So, you should be careful about using it. If you choose to use the term, make sure that the person it is directed at understands that you are not being serious.

　　Rafael's message, for example, clearly used the word in a joking manner. Still, his point is correct:

　　I am a grammar weirdo.

　　And that's Everyday Grammar.

　　Words in This Story

　　assume – v. to think that something is true or probably true

　　sponsor³ – v. to give money to an athlete for training, clothes, equipment, etc.,

1 imaginative   

adj.富有想象力的，爱想象的

参考例句：

• The imaginative child made up fairy stories.这个想像力丰富的孩子自己编神话故事。
• Scott was an imaginative writer.司格特是位富于想象力的作家。

2 assume   

vt.假装；假定，设想；承担；呈现，采取

参考例句：

• I assume that he won't cheat you.想来他是不会骗你的。
• We can't assume anything in this case.在这种情况下我们不可能做出假设。

3 sponsor   

vt.发起，主办；资助；n.发起者，资助人

参考例句：

• Sponsor stated they have no idea where he is.赞助方表示他们不知道他在哪儿。
• The sponsor has permanent ad on the website commonly.赞助商一般在网站上有永久性广告。

4 sponsored   

v.赞助( sponsor的过去式和过去分词)；资助（某人的培训或教育）；为慈善活动捐资；发起，倡议adj.赞助的；发起的

参考例句：

• The exhibition was sponsored by the Society of Culture. 这个展览会是由文化学会主办的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The company sponsored several TV programs. 这家公司赞助了几个电视节目。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 related   

adj.有关系的，有关联的，叙述的，讲述的

参考例句：

• I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。

6 footsteps   

n.脚步（声），一步的距离，足迹；脚步（声）( footstep的名词复数 )；一步的距离；足迹

参考例句：

• the sound of footsteps on the stairs 楼梯上的脚步声
• Their footsteps echoed in the silence. 他们的脚步声在一片寂静中回荡着。

7 bold   

adj.果敢的，冒险的，无畏的；冒失的，鲁莽的

参考例句：

• Her words were so bold that people caught their breath.她的话太大胆了，使人们都倒抽了一口气。
• The room was decorated in bold colours.房间的色调布置得鲜明醒目。

8 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

9 disapproving   

adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Mother gave me a disapproving look. 母亲的眼神告诉我她是不赞成的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her father threw a disapproving glance at her. 她父亲不满地瞥了她一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》