Writing Feedback: Large Numbers

01In last week's Everyday Grammar, we explored large numbers in the news.

02We learned about numbers such as a million, a billion, and a trillion.

03We asked our listeners and readers to write us messages about their countries.

04Today we give feedback on some of the messages we received.

05We will learn some ideas about English grammar.

06We will also learn a little about the world around us.

07Let's start our lesson with Afghanistan.

08An unnamed VOA Learning English fan wrote us two sentences about Afghanistan, both involving the large number 40 million.

09The writer uses AFS, which is the plural short form for the Afghan currency, the Afghani.

10UN announces $40 million aid for Afghan government.

11Every year, Afghan government spends almost $40 million AFS in education section.

12We suggest adding a few elements to the first sentence.

13We can use the article THE in several places.

14We can also include the short word IN.

15Here is one way we might update the sentence.

16The UN announced $40 million in aid for the Afghan government.

17In the second sentence, we might change the final noun.

18Instead of section, we might use sector, which suggests a field of the economy.

19Here is one way we might update the sentence.

20Every year, the Afghan government spends almost $40 million AFS for the education sector.

21Now let's turn to a message about Turkey.

22Here is what Emrah wrote.

23People love to share their knowledge and ideas.

24Emrah wrote an excellent message.

25We particularly liked the first sentence.

26This is a great way to introduce an idea.

27We suggest organizing the rest of the paragraph so that the structures are parallel.

28We could change the verb form to the present.

29We also might slightly change some wording.

30For example, instead of saying 4 millions of blogs, we might instead say 4 million blog posts.

31Here is one way to update the message.

32Every day, 4 million blog posts are written, 80 million photos are shared on Instagram, and 616 million tweets are posted, a rate of 7,100 tweets per second.

33Next, we read part of a message from Lukas in the Czech Republic.

34Lukas wrote one sentence for each large number, a million, a billion, and a trillion.

35We enjoyed how Lukas used a wonderful verb, hover.

36It means to hang over a point or to move around over a place.

37Here are the sentences.

38The population of the Czech Republic has been hovering around 10 million for many decades.

39Billions of Czech crowns are sent every month to seniors for their pensions.

40Our country is too small to have a trillion of anything.

41While the Czech Republic may be too small to have a trillion of anything, we imagine that millions, if not billions, of people would love to visit it.

42Let's end with a message from Japan.

43Ishi wrote, On New Year's Day this year, a major earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula, located in northern Japan.

44The total damage is estimated at $16.6 billion.

45Ishi's writing is excellent.

46We would offer a couple ways of changing the sentence so that it contains the same information.

47Our suggestions relate to style and not the substance of the first sentence.

48One choice would be this.

49Another choice would be this.

50On New Year's Day this year, a major earthquake struck northern Japan's Noto Peninsula.

51We were impressed by all the wonderful messages we received.

52We were not able to use all of them in this lesson, but some of them might make appearances in future lessons.

53If you have any questions or comments, please send us an email at learningenglish at voanews.com.

54I'm John Russell.

55I'm John Russell.

56I'm John Russell.