張永丹供稿
西方人特別重視隱私權,從不與別人談論私事,因此見面時選擇了一個共同的話題:天氣。其實,他們多數時候并非真正關心天氣的變化,只不過是以談“天”作為談話的開場白,再慢慢轉換話題談正事。請看本期話題Talking about the weather(談論天氣)。
1. What’s the weather like today? 今天天氣如何?
How’s the weather in...? ……的天氣怎么樣?
2. It’s fine/cloudy/windy/rainy,etc.晴朗/多云/有風/有雨等。
It’s rather warm/cold/hot/etc.today,isn’t it?今天相當暖和/挺冷/挺熱的……,是吧?
A
Bob:Li Ming,you’re from Beijing,aren’t you?
Li Ming:Yes,I am.
Bob:What’s the weather like in Beijing now?
Li Ming:It’s spring now.It’s often windy in March.In April and May,it’s usually pretty warm.
Bob:What’s the best season in Beijing?
Li Ming:Autumn is the best season.It’s neither cold nor hot.The sky is clear and blue.There’s hardly any wind.And there’s plenty of sunshine.
Bob:What beautiful weather!
Li Ming:That’s true.So autumn is the best time to come to Beijing.
Welcome to Beijing in autumn.
Bob:Thank you.I’ll come someday.Maybe this autumn.
B
Jack:Lovely weather,isn’t it?
Yao Yuan:Yes,lovely.
Jack:And the weather man says it’s going to stay like this until the weekend.Yao Yuan:I hope so,too.
Jack:Are you waiting for a bus?
Yao Yuan:Yes.My friends asked me to take part in a picnic in the country.Jack:Um,it’s a good idea to have a picnic in such good weather.Yao Yuan:Oh,my bus is coming.I have to go now.Goodbye.Jack:Have a good time.Bye.

【背景知識】
① 詢問天氣的常用句式為:What’s the weather like?/How is the weather?此處的What應譯為“怎樣;如何”。
② 對詢問天氣的答語為:It’s+表示天氣的形容詞。此處it表示天氣,相當于the weather。又如:It’s fine /windy.天氣晴朗/有風。It’s rather cold /hot.相當冷/熱。
③ 人們常以談論天氣引起話題。又如:What terrible weather(it is)!多糟糕的天氣??!A nice day,isn’t it?多好的天氣啊,是不是?在這樣的談話中,比較禮貌地回答是贊同對方的觀點。例如:Yes,it is,isn’t it?是的,確實很糟/不錯。
根據對話內容,從方框中選擇恰當的句子補全下列對話。
A
A:It’s a lovely day,isn’t it?
B:__ 1___.
A:We’re going to have a basketball match tomorrow morning._ 2 ?
B:I’d like to.I like watching matches.But I think it’s going to rain.
A:I don’t think so.
B:__ 3___.And it hasn’t rained for a week.
A:He often makes mistakes in his weather report.___4___.
B:No,he is usually right.
A:___5___.
B:Well,I must go,but I’ll take my umbrella with me.

A. The weatherman says it is
B. And it isn’t cloudy today, either
C. Yes, it certainly is
D. But I’m sure we’ll have fine weather for our match
E. Why don’t you come with us

B
A:_ 1_
B:The weatherman says it’s going to rain.
A:_ 2
B:_ 3
A:Yes.We are going on a picnic,but we’ll have to give up if it rains.B:_ 4_
A:I hope he’s made a mistake again this time.
B:_ 5_
A:That’s right.
A.What a pity!

B.What will the weather be like the day after tomorrow?
C.You know sometimes the weatherman makes mistakes.
D.Or all of you will be unhappy.
E.Are you going to do anything outdoors?

有時我們為應征工作而參加一項面試,或是將與一位新認識的女孩約會,此刻的心情必然是忐忑不安的,則可使用本句,并且期待友人的撫慰。
Q:What’s wrong, Lisa? You keep pacing back and forth. 怎么了,麗莎?你一直來回踱著步。A:I’m nervous. I have to make a big presentation in the meeting. 我好
緊張。我必須在會議中作大型報告。
Q:Don’t worry. You’ll do fine. 別擔心。你會表現很好的。
【常用口語】
I’m anxious. 我好不安。
【特別提醒】
英文里表“心中忐忑不安”, 尚有另外一個重要說法。
I have butter fl ies in my stomach.= I feel (quite) uneasy. 我坐立難安。
本句中butter fl y原指“蝴蝶”,若有許多只蝴蝶在肚子里飛來飛去,那種滋味一定不好受,故“I have butter fl ies in my stomach.”比喻為“我坐立難安”。

我們參加一項宴會,或是一項旅游活動,若玩得很高興,擁有快樂時光,則可使用本句,以表達內心的滿足歡喜。本句也可改寫為“I had a great (good) time.”或“I had lots of (a lot of)fun.”,句意不變。
Q:I have to go home now, Jenny. Thanks for inviting me to your party. 我現在得回家了,珍妮。謝謝邀請我參加你的派對。
A:I’m glad you came. I hope you enjoyed it.我很高興你能來。希望你玩得愉快。

Q:I had a wonderful time.我玩得很開心。
【常用口語】
I enjoyed it very much. 我玩得非常開心。
It was fun. 很好玩。
【特別提醒】
本句延伸重要句型為“人 + have a wonderful
(great, good) time + V-ing”,表“某人從事某項活動非常愉快(開心)”。
had〔a wonderful (great, good) time
working with Peter. 我與彼得共事非常愉快。
有時我們無心犯錯而傷害到對方或與對方有關的人、事、物,此刻應立即趨前向對方說明事件原委,并以由衷致歉的口吻獻上本句,表示不會再犯了,相信可以獲得對方諒解的。
Q:Who gave my dog this chicken bone? 是誰將這雞骨頭給我的狗吃的?
A:I did. Why? 是我。怎么了?
Q:Didn’t you know dogs shouldn’t eat chicken bones because they’re bad for their stomachs?你難道不知道狗不應吃雞骨頭嗎?因為這會對它們的腸胃造成不良影響。
A:No, I didn’t. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. 不,我并不知道。很抱歉。那種情形不會再發生了。
【常用口語】
It will never happen again. 那種情形不會再發生了。
I will never do that again. 我不會再做那種事情了。
I won’t do it again. 我不會再犯了。
【特別提醒】
上列對話中,bone是名詞,表“骨頭”,與其相關的另一常用名詞為lazybones,原意為“懶骨頭”,引申表“懶人”,且不論主語為單數或復數,永遠使用復數形式(指因人體內骨頭數量很多)。例句:
He’s a lazybones. 他是個懶人。
They’re lazybones. 他們都是懶人。

我們參加一項重要考試,但卻無把握能否過關,或是聞知親朋好友患有病痛,急待診治,此時皆可使用本句,來表達內心擔憂的感受。
Q:The weather has been terrible this week. 這星期的天氣一直很糟。A:Yeah, I’m worried. If it’s like this tomorrow, our big outdoor party will have to be canceled.是啊,我好擔心。假如明天天氣還是如此,那么我們的大型戶外派對就得取消了。
Q:Let’s hope it clears up. 希望天氣放晴吧。
【常用口語】
I’m concerned about... 我擔心……I’m anxious about... 我擔心……
【特別提醒】
“I’m worried.”句中的worried是形容詞,其后亦可接介詞about,再接名詞,表“擔心……”。
I’m worried about Judy’s whereabouts. 我擔心茱蒂的下落。
另外,worry也可作及物動詞,有下列重要用法:It worries me sick. 這件事情令我擔心死了。
