ศาลาชุมนุม

[Pirin]

When saying things to others, writers assume the reader to know lots of things, don't they?

In the following sentence (in English) found in National Geographic (Angkor), native speakers of English might not think about what the writer assumes the reader to know so that the reader will understand the sentence. As for learners of English, it does take time and lots of practice to gain enough knowledge and insights.

Please feel free to give an explanation about what can help learners of English understand this sample sentence either in English or Thai.

"The most extensive urban complex of the preindustrial world, Angkor stretched across an area the size of New York City.

I don't know that I can be of any use but I will try.
There are two sentences both describe Angkor using different criteria.
1 Angkor was the most extensive urban complex of the pre-industrial world.

2.Angkor stretched across an area the size of New York City.
One subject ,two sentences , two verbs - was and stretched.

These two descriptions have been combined by leaving out the subject verb of the first sentence and inserting a comma.
The largest city of the time, Angkor stretched accross an area the size of New York City.
1. John was the fattest in class before gym was compulsory.
2. John needed as many seats as two people.
The fattest in class, John needed as many seats as two people.

ขอบคุณมากค่ะอาจารย์สำหรับคำอธิบาย แต่อาจารย์อาจจะไม่ทราบหรอกค่ะว่าภาษาอังกฤษยาก(มาก)

With another pair of sentences below, we can't follow your description.
South America produces some of the most exciting soccer on Earth.
South America has many of the most admired players.

[Tgeezer]

When saying things to others, writers assume the reader to know lots of things, don't they?

In the following sentence (in English) found in National Geographic (Angkor), native speakers of English might not think about what the writer assumes the reader to know so that the reader will understand the sentence. As for learners of English, it does take time and lots of practice to gain enough knowledge and insights.

Please feel free to give an explanation about what can help learners of English understand this sample sentence either in English or Thai.

"The most extensive urban complex of the preindustrial world, Angkor stretched across an area the size of New York City.

I don't know that I can be of any use but I will try.
There are two sentences both describe Angkor using different criteria.
1 Angkor was the most extensive urban complex of the pre-industrial world.

2.Angkor stretched across an area the size of New York City.
One subject ,two sentences , two verbs - was and stretched.

These two descriptions have been combined by leaving out the subject verb of the first sentence and inserting a comma.
The largest city of the time, Angkor stretched accross an area the size of New York City.
1. John was the fattest in class before gym was compulsory.
2. John needed as many seats as two people.
The fattest in class, John needed as many seats as two people.

ขอบคุณมากค่ะอาจารย์สำหรับคำอธิบาย แต่อาจารย์อาจจะไม่ทราบหรอกค่ะว่าภาษาอังกฤษยาก(มาก)

With another pair of sentences below, we can't follow your description.
South America produces some of the most exciting soccer on Earth.
South America has many of the most admired players.

There is only one subject in 'Angkor'.

There are two subjects here: South America and South American football. They need to be made into one: South American Football.
'South American Football is producing some of the most ......etc, South American football.....etc. I have changed 'produces' to 'is producing' to make the omission of the subject more simple, the original sentence might well have been South American football produces"

he produces > he is producing.


I am not an expert on this, just familiar with the language and this is my point.
edit: Producing some of the most exciting.... ,South American Football has ......