ACT 2-1 “那么说我已经解决了你的问题了。”
【故事梗概】
Susan想请自己的老板John Marchetta帮忙，为Grandpa找点事做。她叫来了自己的助手Sam“商量”这个想法是否可行。
Susan: Sam, would you come in, please?
Sam: You sound like something's bothering you, Susan. The sketches for the cover of the new doll book?
Susan: That's not it. Please sit down.
Sam: Sure.
Susan: I need your advice on a personal matter, but it's not about me.
Sam: You need my advice on a personal matter, and it's not about you. OK.
Susan: It's about my grandfather.
Sam: What's the problem?
Susan: It won't sound like a big deal, but it is. I had dinner with him Saturday, and he's very unhappy about not working.
Sam: I thought he was retired and pleased to be living with the family.
Susan: He is, but there's so much energy and talent in the man, and he doesn't get to use it.
Sam: But what can I do? What kind of advice are you looking for?
Susan: Simply this. John Marchetta runs this company.
Sam: He founded this company.
Susan: Right. John Marchetta gave me my start here six years ago, when I first graduated from college. He gave me the chance to use my talents and made me feel more confident.
Sam: Right. Maybe he can do the same thing for your grandfather.
Susan: Or at least give him some advice.
Sam: Right. Then I’ve solved you problem.
Susan: I can always depend on you, Sam.
Sam: I'm glad to help. Shall I call Mr. Marchetta for you?
Susan: No, no. I'll do that. Thanks.
【语言点精讲】
1. You sound like something's bothering you.
听起来好像有什么事使你心烦。这是一种关心别人，询问别人怎么了、是不是有麻烦了的说法。bother: 使烦恼，打扰。
2. I need your advice on a personal matter, but it's not about me.
我有一件私事需要听你的意见，可并不是关于我自己的。Susan的话有些表面上的矛盾，这显然让Sam有点摸不着头脑，所以他说“You need my advice on a personal matter, and it's not about you.”这里Sam 重复了Susan的话。重复别人的话是确认对方意图的一种方式。
a personal matter: 个人的事情，私事。
3. It won't sound like a big deal, but it is.
听起来不像是一件重要的事情，可事实上是的。
sound like: 听起来好像…
a big deal: 指的是something very important（很重要的事情）。
4. I had dinner with him Saturday, and he's very unhappy about not working.
我星期六和他一起吃的晚饭，他因为没有工作很不高兴。
I had dinner with him Saturday: 正式的说法应该在Saturday前面加上一个on。但是在美国英语中，这个on常被省略。
be unhappy about: 因为……而不高兴。
5. Simply this.
简单说就是这样的。
6. He gave me the chance to use my talents and made me feel more confident.
他给了我使用我的才能的机会，使我更有信心。
give sb. the chance to do sth.: 给某人机会做某事。
made me feel more confident: 使我更有信心。make sb. do sth.是make加不带to的不定式作宾补，其他类似的动词还有feel, let, see, watch, have等。
7. Then I’ve solved you problem.
那么说我已经解决了你的问题了。
solve the problem: 解决问题。这是个常用的搭配。
8. I can always depend on you.
我总是可以信赖你的。可以用这句话来感谢对方对自己的协助，这里的“对方”应该是和自己比较熟悉的人。
depend on: 依靠；信赖。也可写作 “depend upon”。
9. Shall I call Mr. Marchetta for you?
要不要我给Mr. Marchetta打电话？
表示主动为某人做某事时，如果主语是I或we时，一般用shall，例如: “Shall I/we wait for you？”。主语是you时则用would，例如: “Would you like me to help you?”。
ACT 2-2 “他怎么了？”
【故事梗概】
Susan在自己的老板John Marchetta的办公室里，鼓足勇气请老板给Grandpa一个工作的机会。另她有些出乎意料的是，John Marchetta先生立即就答应让Grandpa明天来面试。
Marchetta: Now, how's the Stewart family?
Susan: Fine, thank you, Mr. Marchetta. Except for my grandfather.
Marchetta: What's wrong, Susan? What's wrong with him?
Susan: He needs to work. In fact, that is the reason why I'm here to see you. I know you're building a new factory, and I thought…maybe …my grandfather is so experienced in the construction trade, he could be so valuable.
Marchetta: Tel him to come and see me at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. I have an idea that may solve the problem for him and help a lot of other people.
Susan: Really, Mr. Marchetta? Can I tell him that?
Marchetta: Sure can. Ten o'clock in the morning. Here.
Susan: Oh, thank you!
【语言点精讲】
1. How's the Stewart family?
Stewart全家人还好吗？这里动词用单数is，因为family是集体名词，表示全家人作为一个整体。
2. Except for my grandfather.
这句话是“Everyone is fine except for my grandfather.”的省略。
except for: 除……之外。指若不计被除掉的这一点，其它方面都符合主句的断言。
3. What's wrong, Susan? What's wrong with him?
怎么了，Susan？他怎么了？
向对方表示关怀，询问对方遇到什么麻烦了、有什么困难，可以有多种表达方式。如：
What's wrong?
What's the problem?
There is something on your mind.
Something's bothering you.
What's the matter?
Is anything/something wrong?
4. In fact, that is the reason why I'm here to see you.
事实上，我就是为这事来见你的。
the reason why … : …的原因，…的理由。也可以说the reason that或者the reason for.
5. My grandfather is so experienced in the construction trade, he could be so valuable.
so experienced in the construction trade: 在建筑行业很有经验。trade除“贸易，交换”以外，还有“行业，手艺”的意思，因此有 the construction trade的说法。
valuable:有价值的，有用的。注意以下几个词的意思: invaluable（无价的；非常贵重的），valueless（无价值的；不值钱的），unvalued（不受重视的）， valued（重要的；宝贵的）。
6. Sure can.
当然可以。是一种非正式用法。
全文：
Sam, would you come in, please?
Sam 请进来一下 好吗
You sound like something's bothering you, Susan.
听起来好像 有什麽心事 Susan
The sketches for the cover of the new doll book?
是新玩具书的封面设计
That's not it.
不是这种事
Please sit down.
请坐下。
Sure.
好的。
I need your advice on a personsal matter,
我有件私事 需要听听你的高见
but it's not about me.
但这不是关於我自己的事情
You need my advice on a personal matter,
有私事需要听我的意见
and it's not about you. OK.
而且不是关於你自己的。好吧
It's about my grandfather.
是关於我爷爷。
What's the problem?
什麽事
It won't sound like a big deal,
这事听起来没啥严重
but it is.
但实际上很要紧。
I had dinner with him Saturday,
星期六我与他一起吃晚饭
and he's very unhappy about not working.
他对没有工作感到很不快乐。
I thought he was retired
我原以为他退休了
and pleased to be living with the family.
乐於跟家人住在一起。
He is,
没有错。
but there's so much energy and talent in the man,
但是他有那麽多的精力和才能
and he doesn't get to use it.
却又用不上。
But what can I do?
但我能帮什麽忙
What kind of advice are you looking for?
希望能得到什麽建议
Simply this.
简单说来是这样的。
John Marchetta runs this company.
John Marchetta 经营这家公司
He founded this company.
他创办了这家公司。
Right.
对。
John Marchetta gave me my start here six years ago,
六年前 John Marchettta让我在这里起步
When I first graduated from college.
那时我刚从大学毕业。
He gave me the chance to use my talents
他提供给我施展才能的机会?
and made me feel more confident.
使我对自己更加有信心
Right.
是的。
Maybe he can do the same thing for your grandfather.
也许他能为你爷爷做同样的事。
Or at least give him some advice.
再不然至少可以给他一些忠告。
Right.
对。
Then I've solved your problem.
说来我替你解决问题了
I can always depend on you, Sam.
我知道我可以依靠你
I'm glad to help.
我很乐意帮忙。
Shall I call Mr. Marchetta for you?
要我替你打电话给 Marcchetta先生吗
No, no. I'll do that.
不 不。我自己来
Thanks.
谢谢你。
Now, how's the Stewart family?
那麽 Stewart全家人都好吗
Fine, thank you, Mr. Mrarchetta.
都好 谢谢你 Mrarchetta先生。
Except for my grandfather.
除了我爷爷。
What's wrong, Susan?
怎麽啦 Susan
What's wrong with him?
他怎麽啦
He needs to work.
他需要工作。
In fact, that is the reason why I'm here to see you.
事实上 这是我来见你的原因。
I know you're building a new factory,
我知道你在兴建一座新工厂
and I thought ... maybe ...
我觉得……也许……
my grandfather is
我爷爷
so experienced in the construction trade,
在营造这一行业经验丰富
he could be so valuable.
他或许能够有所用。
Tell him to come and see me
告诉他来见我
at ten o'clock tomorrow morning.
明天上午十点钟。
I have an idea that may solve the problem for him
我有个主意 也许能解决这个问题
and help a lot of other people.
且对其他很多人有益
Really, Mr. Marchetta?
真的吗 Marchetta先生
Can I tell him that?
我可以把这消息告诉他吗
Sure can.
当然可以。
Ten o'clock in the morning. Here.
上午十点在这。
Oh, thank you!
噢 谢谢你
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