生活英语对话 Episode 73: Holiday plans

本单元是关于度假打算的对话。

Helen: So what are we all doing at Christmas? Tim, you've got a few days off work, haven't you?
Tim: Indeed I have Helen, and I'm popping over to Poland for a few days. I'm looking forward to a nice cosy¹ Christmas. Fancy² joining me?
Helen: I've already been invited, thank you very much. Michal and I had quite a long chinwag the other day. It'd be nice to see him but I've already made plans. I'm spending Christmas and New Year with my Mum and Dad, and Alice, it would be really nice if you could join us.
Alice: Thanks Helen, I'd love to. But you know I'm working over the New Year, so I'll have to come back before you do.
Tim: Yeah, but at least you won't be on your own for the main event.

Vocabulary: 字汇

to pop over: 去某地
to visit briefly

cosy (adj): 感觉舒适
warm and comfortable

fancy joining me?: 想要一起去吗？
would you like to join me?

over the New Year:新年期间
for a period of time around New Year

to have a chinwag:聊过天
to have a chat

the main event:重大活动
the most important occasion³ (here, Christmas day)

本单元语言点是现在进行式表示未来的安排，请看下面的解释和例句

Present continuous⁴ for future arrangements

Present continuous for future arrangements 以现在进行式表示未来的安排
English speakers often use the present continuous tense (subject + 'be' = verb-ing) to talk about future arrangements. A future arrangement is a plan that you have decided⁵ and organised with another person.

I'm spending Christmas and New Year with my Mum and Dad.
We're meeting Susan at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

Sometimes the arrangement is between a person and a group of people, or an organisation⁶ or company:

I'm working over the New Year. (this arrangement is between Alice and her employer)

They are flying to New York tomorrow morning. (they have made this arrangement with the airline)

It is not always necessary to state who the arrangement is with. For example, Tim says:
So what are we all doing at Christmas?

I'm popping over to Poland for a few days.
I'm looking forward to a nice cosy Christmas.

Alice and Helen understand that Tim is talking about arrangements, even though he does not say who the arrangements are with.


Present continuous for things which you are about to start doing 以现在进行式表示即将从事之动作

English speakers often use the present continuous tense to talk about things they are about to start doing. This is especially common with verbs⁷ of movement, such as go, come, leave etc.

I'm going to bed now - goodnight.
Will you help me finish the housework? - Sorry, I can't, I'm leaving for work now.


Time expressions 表达时间

Time expressions are often (but not always) used when present continuous is used to talk about future arrangements.

I'm working over the New Year.
They are flying to New York tomorrow morning.
So what are we all doing at Christmas?
I'm popping over to Poland for a few days.
I'm going to bed now

1 cosy   

adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的

参考例句：

• We spent a cosy evening chatting by the fire.我们在炉火旁聊天度过了一个舒适的晚上。
• It was so warm and cosy in bed that Simon didn't want to get out.床上温暖而又舒适，西蒙简直不想下床了。

2 fancy   

n.想像力，幻想；喜好，爱；adj.想像的，时髦的，华丽装饰的，奢侈的；技巧的；vt.想象，自认为，喜好

参考例句：

• He seemed to have taken quite a fancy to her.他似乎相当喜欢她。
• I have a fancy that it's going to rain.我想大概要下雨。

3 occasion   

n.场合，时机，机会，诱因，理由；vt.惹起，引起

参考例句：

• Her dress was too showy for such a formal occasion.在如此正式的场合，她的服装过分华丽了。
• Her tears were fought back on such an occasion.在这种场合下她忍住了眼泪。

4 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。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

7 verbs   

动词

参考例句：

• I have to swot up on phrasal verbs for a test tomorrow. 我不得不为明天的测验努力温习短语动词。
• Verbs that do not take object are called intransitive verbs. 不带宾语的动词称为不及物动词。