第十课 那里有…… There be…
我当年学英语的时候,对英语的句子结构感到奇怪。中文的“你家有多少人?”按我的“胡说英语”应该直接翻译成“you family have how many people?”但英语却很奇怪地排成“多少人是那里在你家?”(how many people are there in your family?)
我虽然痛恨英语的怪异,但那时没有胆量挑战英语的规矩,所以只能咬紧牙关将此句硬背下来。于是和"there"结下了不解之缘,知道这个句法结构式英语中特有的。
家庭人口
A: How many people are there in your family?你家里有多少人?
B: Five, my parents, twin sisters, and me. 五个,我父母、双胞胎姐妹和我。
A: You are the older or younger kid?你是较大的还是较小的?
B: I'm the youngest.我是最小的。
哪里有饭店
A: I'm starving. I want to get something to eat.我饿死了,想吃点东西。
B: There's a restaurant around the corner.在转弯处有一个饭店。
A: I only want a slice of pizza.我只要一块比萨饼。
B: That's an Italian restaurant. You might get it.那是一个意大利饭店,可能有。
外面有人等
A: There are two people waiting outside.有两人在外面等。
B: What are they waiting for?他们在等什么?
A: I have no idea.我不知道。
B: Let me ask them what's going on.让我问一问他们怎么回事。
爱管闲事
A: Look, there are so many people.看,有那么多的人。
B: Has there been an accident?那里发生事故了吗?
A: I guess so. Let's have a look.我猜是这样的。让我看一看、
B: Come on, it's none of your business.唉,那不关你的事。
没有时间了
A: Hurry up, there's no enough time.赶紧,没有时间了。
B: Calm down, we have plenty of time. 不要急,我们有足够的时间。
A: I hate to go with you. 我讨厌和你一起走。
B: But you always have a lot of fun with me.但你和我在一起总是有很多的乐趣。
机场班车
A: Is there a shuttle bus to Manhattan?有没有直达公共汽车到曼哈顿的?
B: Yes, there's a bus from here every half an hour.是的,每半小时有一班公共汽车。
A: Is it the cheapest way to get there?这是最便宜的方法吗?
B: Oh, yes, it costs you much more if you take taxi.是的,如果你乘坐出租车,要付很多钱。
解释误会
A: I'm afraid there is some misunderstanding here.我担心有一些误解。
B: I don't want there to be any misunderstanding.我不希望有任何误解。
A: So you should make it clear.你就应该搞得更明白一点。
B: Okay, let's explain the situation more specifically.好,让我把情形解释得更清楚一点。
财务麻烦
A: There comes a point where you give up.关键在于你什么时候放弃。
B: Yes, money is always the issue.是啊,钱总是一个问题。
A: There remains the problem of finance. 财务问题还是存在的。
B: There seemed to be no doubt about it.那是确定无疑的。
大楼倒塌
A: Suddenly there was a loud bang.突然一声巨响。
B: What happened at that moment?那个时刻有什么事发生?
A: The building suddenly collapsed.大楼突然倒塌了。
B: What a horrible thing!多可怕的一件事啊。
只剩两天
A: There's only two days left.只剩两天了。(不符合标准语法的常用口语)
B: But it's impossible for me to finish this job.我不可能完成这个任务。
A: If you need my help, please don't hesitate.如果你需要我的帮助,不要犹豫。
B: Yeah, but this time you cannot help me.好,但这次你不能帮我了。
糟糕记性
A: I cannot find my watch.我找不到我的手表。
B: There it is ------ just behind the book.在那里,就在书的后面。
A: You see how terrible my memory is!你看我的记性有多差。
B: It's nothing to do with your memory.这和你的记性没有关系。
令人惊奇的雕塑
A: There's the statue I was telling you about.那就是我告诉你的雕像。
B: Wow, it's fabulous.真是很奇妙啊。
A: You see I was not lying.你看我没有撒谎吧。
B: You really have an artistic eye.你真的有艺术家的眼光。
隐藏费用
A: Are you sure there is no hidden fee? 你确信没有隐藏费用?
B: I don't know. I guess not.我不知道,我猜想是没有。
A: It will be too late when you get the bill.当你拿到账单的时候,就太晚了。
B: I will call the company to make sure of it.我会给公司打电话确认。
救难基金
A: After that, there must be a lot of needs there.在那以后,那儿的物资一定很匮乏。
B: The people need financial support urgently.民众急需财务支援。
A: What have the government done? 政府做了什么?
B: The government has issued several huge grants.政府拨了几项大的资助。
有无可能
A: Do you think that the terrorists already have nuclear weapons?你认为恐怖分子已经拥有核武器了吗?
B: There was no chance in the past, but now I am not sure.过去不可能,现在我说不准了。
A: How do you feel when you think of such a horrible possibility?当你想到这样可怕地可能性,你是如何想的?
B: I am scared. There is no doubt about it.我感到害怕,那是毫无疑问的。
没有必要
A: Would you like me to have it repaired?你要我去修这个东西吗?
B: There is no need. I can just glue it.没有必要了,我可以上胶的。
A: I'm sorry I broke it. I should be more careful.对不起打碎了,我应该更小心。
B: Don't worry about it. Everybody has a careless moment.不必担心,每个人都有粗心大意的时候。
无可奉告
A: How long are we likely to have to wait before the plane takes off?飞机起飞前我们要等多久?
B: Sorry, sir. There's no way to tell.对不起先生,无可奉告。
A: What are you talking about? It's your job to tell the flight schedules.你在说什么?告诉航班时间是你的工作。
B: I apologize any inconvenience due to the flight delay.我对航班误点所引起的不方便感到抱歉。
根的潜力——例句精华
对话浓缩
1. How many people are there in your family?
2. There's a restaurant around the corner.
3. There are two people waiting outside.
4. Look, there are so many people.
5. Has there been an accident?
6. Hurry up, there's no enough time.
7. Is there a shuttle bus to Manhattan?
8. Yes, there's a bus from here every half an hour.
9. I'm afraid there is some misunderstanding here.
10. I don't want there to be any misunderstanding.
11. There comes a point where you give up.
12. There remains the problem of finance.
13. There seemed to be no doubt about it.
14. Suddenly there was a loud bang.
15. There's only two days left.
16. There it is -- just behind the book.
17. There's the statue I was telling you about.
18. Are you sure there is no hidden fee?
19. After that, there must be a lot of needs there.
20. There was no chance in the past, but now I am not sure.
21. There is no doubt about it.
22. There is no need.
23. There's no way to tell.
生出树杈——例句精华
Here
1. Here the speaker paused to have a drink.这时演讲者暂停了下了,喝了口水。
2. Here's the money I promised you.这是我承诺你的钱。
3. Here's a dish that is simple and quick to make.这是一道简单而容易制作的菜。
4. Here is your opportunity.这是你的机会。
5. Here comes the bus.公交车来了。
6. I can't find my keys. Oh, here they are.我找不到我的钥匙。哦,在这里。
7. Here we are (= We're arrived.).我们到了。
8. "Here goes," said Grace and took a deep breath. “开始吧,”格莱斯说着并深吸一口气。
9. Here you are. This is what you were asking for.给你,这是你要的。
10. Here you go. Four copies, is that right?这是你的。四份拷贝,对吗?
说笑话练习
太太的喉炎
Jake called his doctor to tell him that his wife had laryngitis.
杰克打电话给他的医生,说他的妻子有喉炎。
"Well, I'm sorry, but in this case, time is the best medicine. There is really nothing I can do to cure your wife's laryngitis."
“唉,对不起,但对这个病,时间是最好的药物。对治好你妻子的喉炎我几乎别无它法。”
"Don't worry. There is no problem at all."
“不要担心,一点问题都没有。”
"Why do you say that?"
“你为什么这么说?”
"You really think I am interested in curing it?" Jake smiled.
“你真的以为我对治愈它感兴趣吗?”杰克笑道。
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