VOA慢速英语2021--Pretend and Imitation

Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Shinji in Japan.

Question:

I am unsure about how to use "imitate" and "pretend."

For example, I see such sentences as, "Does your child like pretend play?" referring to acting¹ like a superhero, for instance². But is it wrong to say, "Does your child like imitation³ play?"

Shinji, Japan.

Answer:

Dear Shinji,

We have all watched children as they use their imagination during play. For example, a child may pick up a stick and use it as a sword, pretending to be a hero.

The simple answer to your question is no, it is not wrong to use "imitation" as an adjective⁴ with the noun⁵ "play." But there is a difference in meaning. Let us look at the two words.

Pretend

When someone pretends, they are acting as if something were true. An example is the child who takes an empty shoe box and puts a doll into it. The child is pretending as they push it around the floor, saying,

This is her car.

Imitation

When children imitate, they are acting as if they were another person, such as an adult in their life. The child who holds a doll and sings a gentle song to it is imitating a loving parent. The child puts the doll down and covers it, saying,

My baby is going to sleep now. Please be quiet.

The child is both imitating a parent and pretending that the doll is a living thing.

Make-believe

Do you have a child who plays in this way? You may be interested to know that experts say it is very important for children to learn by imitating what they see around them and pretending with toys and other objects. Both help them use their imagination.

Another word for this kind of play is "make-believe." One way to help a child develop their imagination is to provide dress-up clothes and toys that look like tools and household objects. Experts also suggest it is good to play along with whatever story the child imagines and talk about what is happening to help develop their language skills.

Shinji, I hope you have fun taking part in pretend play with the children in your life. You can even see adults playing at being someone else or being in another time at historical fairs and museums.

What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at [email protected]

Words in This Story

pretend – v. to act as if something is true when it is not true

sword – n. a weapon with a long metal blade⁶ that has a sharp point and edge

museum –n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public

1 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

2 instance   

n.例，例证，实例

参考例句：

• Can you quote me a recent instance?你能给我举一个最近的例子吗？
• He's a greedy boy,yesterday,for instance,he ate all our biscuits!他是个贪吃的孩子――比如，他昨天把我们的饼干都吃了！

3 imitation   

n.模仿；仿制，仿制品；赝品

参考例句：

• It's not real leather;it's only an imitation.那不是真皮，只不过是仿制品。
• Young children learn how to speak by imitation.儿童通过模仿学说话。

4 adjective   

n.形容词；adj.形容词的，用作形容词的

参考例句：

• Don't apply that adjective to me.不要用那个字眼来形容我。
• The adjective loose has several senses. 形容词loose有几个义项。

5 noun   

n.名词

参考例句：

• What kind of noun is this?这是哪类名词？
• This word is a collective noun.这个词是个集体名词。

6 blade   

n.刀刃，刀片；叶片

参考例句：

• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。
• He is a good blade.他剑术高明。