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Some problems about the content of Wife Swap

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ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms

Expression "we would like" | Idiom: to drive like a little old lady

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#1 (permalink) Thu May 10, 2007 18:32 pm Some problems about the content of Wife Swap

Hi,guys

There is one paragraph. I don't make sense some parts of it. Could you please help me?

Quote:

There are,however,also reality shows which do not require any input from the viewers! 'Wife Swap' an experiment in which the female halves of married couples switched roles for two weeks, was a huge hit. And then there is an endless lit of programmes dedicated to charting the successes and failures of people who give up everything to pursue their dreams, be it opening an Indian restaurant in Spain, or buying an olive farm in Italy.

My questions are list below.

1.There are,however,also reality shows which do not require any input from the viewers!.

That means even though the viewers don't encourage or suggest the reality shows to do some crazy things,they still do,finally. Am I right? I simply want to learn more. Because I think sometimes I really can not understand English logic.

2. And then there is an endless lit of programmes dedicated to charting ...

Here, how come the author used the term 'charting'. As I know,chart means drawing something. And I think the author should use another terms,such as chatting,talking and others. What do you think about this?

3. be it opening an Indian restaurant in Spain, or buying an olive farm in Italy.

Here,what does 'be it opening' mean? Actually, I can make sense the mission of the sentense. Nevertheless,I consider the English grammar. Because I don't think I have seen this kind of sentense pattern. My question is why the autor used 'it' ,active tense and single subject but not passive tense and plural subject? And I think 'it', the subject, can be shared by 'buying'. Am I right? Any opinions will be appreciated.

Greetings!

Maggie
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Maggie
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Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Posts: 328
Location: Taiwan

#2 (permalink) Fri May 11, 2007 9:09 am Some problems about the content of Wife Swap

Hi Maggie,

Would you mind if I put in my two cents worth anout your questions?

Quote:

1.There are,however,also reality shows which do not require any input from the viewers!.

I would suggest 'input' here refers to the viewers' energy, work or power.

Quote:

2. And then there is an endless lit of programmes dedicated to charting ...

I think 'charting' = 'planning', which is its basic meaning as a verb.

Quote:

be it opening an Indian restaurant in Spain, or buying an olive farm in Italy.

I feel it just means: no matter it could be opening an Indian restaurant in Spain, or buying an olive farm in Italy.

Haihao

Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1392
Location: Japan

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#3 (permalink) Sat May 19, 2007 1:50 am Some problems about the content of Wife Swap

Haihao wrote:

Quote:

1.There are,however,also reality shows which do not require any input from the viewers!.

I would suggest 'input' here refers to the viewers' energy, work or power.

Not really. "Input" here means some kind of feedback from the viewers. On some shows, people watching at home are asked to vote on something in the show, send their opinions or in some other way try to influence the outcome of the show. They send in their votes or opinions over the phone or through the Internet.

Haihao wrote:

Quote:

2. And then there is an endless lit of programmes dedicated to charting ...

I think 'charting' = 'planning', which is its basic meaning as a verb.

Here "charting" means following or tracing. The viewers watch the people's successes and failures, and they keep track of how they are doing. Think of a chart that's kept to plot the voyage of a ship that's traveling across the ocean.

Haihao wrote:

Quote:

be it opening an Indian restaurant in Spain, or buying an olive farm in Italy.

I feel it just means: no matter it could be opening an Indian restaurant in Spain, or buying an olive farm in Italy.

That's right. "Be it" means "whether it is" or "whether it be". So an alternative way of saying this would be:

...whether it is opening an Indian restaurant in Spain, or buying an olive farm in Italy.

Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 5332
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

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Expression "we would like" | Idiom: to drive like a little old lady

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