(この記事は、「札幌英会話ニュースレター #2」の英語訳です。）
‘No Bicycles Parking’ X 😜
Nouns can be used as adjectives when placed before gerunds.
However, since adjectives do not usually have plural forms, generally nouns acting as adjectives modifying gerunds should be kept in the singular form.
Examples: video recording, mountain climbing, whale watching, home decorating, shore fishing, body surfing… and bicycle parking!
—> No Bicycle Parking √ 😇
At South 9 in Chuo Ward, Sapporo 📸
Addendum: While riding my bike around town, I have recently come across corrected versions of this sign.
As you can see in the photos below, someone has used yellow tape to cover up the unnecessary ‘S’ in the word ‘BICYCLES.’ There are a heck of a lot of these signs standing on sidewalks all over Sapporo, so that must have taken a hunk of effort…. Whoever did it, thank you for doing that and for helping to improve Sapporo’s Engrish reputation!
I hope that my blog posts on Sapporo signs have created a positive effect, however small, by increasing awareness of the importance of communicating well in English. Get ready for the future!
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