生活英语对话 Episode 9: The favour

本单元是关于求助别人的对话

Michal: I'm going to see a film tonight. Will anyone like to come with me?
Alice: Oh I'd love to Michal but I have to iron all these shirts for Tim.
Helen: Look, why don't you go with Michal and I'll iron the shirts?
Michal: Oh Helen, that's so kind of you.
Alice: But don't you want to go to the cinema too?
Helen: Yes but I need to study. I'll do the shirts, phone the landlord¹ about keeping the cat and then I'll hit the books.
Alice: Oh thanks, we owe you. Bye!
Michal: Bye!
Helen: Oh Cat! What could I do? They seem made for each other.


Vocabulary:

A favour (n): An act of kindness over and above what is usual. Could you do me a favour and lend me ?0?

To hit the books (informal): To study

They seem made for each other: They are a perfect couple. Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston seemed made for each other. Everyone was really surprised when they got divorced²

本单元的语言点是将来时的表达形式，我们可以用不同的形式表达将要发生的事，例如：will, going to and shall.

We can use different forms to talk about future time in English, for example, will, going to and shall.

We will look at other forms (present continuous³, present simple and future perfect) in another language point.

will + base verb:

To make a prediction based on personal opinion
I think you'll love this film. It's got John Cusack in it.
She's convinced⁴ that the team won't win the cup.

Note: In spoken English will is usually shortened⁵ to 'll

To express a decision made at the moment of speaking
You go with Michal and I'll iron the shirts.
We've run out of sugar. I'll buy some later today.

To express future facts
Beijing will host the next Olympics.
The class will finish at 7:30 tonight.

In formal written style to express future events (often planned in detail)
This clinic will be closed on Bank Holiday Monday.
We are sorry there will be no deliveries⁶ of mail during next week's postal⁷ strike.

be + going to + base verb:

To make a prediction based on present evidence
Look at those dark clouds, it's going to rain.
The traffic is terrible! We're going to be late.

To talk about plans already made
I'm going to see a film tonight (I've already bought my ticket).
I've been working hard all week so this weekend I'm not going to do anything at all!

shall + base verb:

Used with 'we' or 'I' in formal situations or in writing

We shall be delighted to have you over for dinner.

I shall visit London from the 4th to the 7th of June.

1 landlord   

n.地主，房东，(旅店)店主

参考例句：

• He is the landlord of this pub.他是这家酒店的店主。
• He used to be a long - term labourer for a landlord.他早先给地主扛过长活。

2 divorced   

adj.离婚的；分开的；不相干的；脱离的v.与…离婚(divorce的过去式和过去分词)；分离；与某人离婚，判某人离婚

参考例句：

• Apparently they are getting divorced soon. 看样子，他们很快就要离婚。
• Many divorced men remarry and have second families. 许多离婚的男子再婚组成了新的家庭。

3 continuous   

adj.继续的，连续的，持续的，延伸的

参考例句：

• She finally got in after 10 years'continuous effort.坚持不懈地努力了十年后，她终于当选了。
• We must be continuous to study.我们必须不断学习。

4 convinced   

adj.确信的；深信的；有坚定信仰的v.使确信(convince的过去分词)；说服

参考例句：

• I am convinced of her innocence. 我坚信她是清白无辜的。
• I'm convinced there's a jinx on this car. 我看这辆汽车是灾星。

5 shortened   

v.弄短，缩短( shorten的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She shortened the skirt by an inch. 她把裙子缩短了一英寸。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Vacations have lengthened and the work week has shortened. 假期延长，工作周就缩短了。 来自辞典例句

6 deliveries   

投递( delivery的名词复数 )； [法律]（正式）交付； 分娩； 表演

参考例句：

• Deliveries of mail could be delayed because of cost-cutting. 由于削减成本，邮件的递送可能会延迟。
• We have developed rapid order processing to expedite deliveries to customers. 我们已创造了快速处理订单的方法以便迅速将货物送达顾客。

7 postal   

adj.邮政的，邮局的

参考例句：

• A postal network now covers the whole country.邮路遍及全国。
• Remember to use postal code.勿忘使用邮政编码。