【英语趣味课堂】如何邀请别人约会-How to Get a Date

 Mike: OK, so for those of us listening who are not familiar with dating in the US, practices are different, Mark, how would you go about getting a date with somebody in the US?

 

Mark: Ah, well, I, that's a difficult question because you know I don't always succeed with that, but I guess usually you like a girl. You begin talking to her and find some things in common with her and, I don't know, if you feel like she likes you and you like her then you ask her out.

 

Mike: OK, what would you say? "Do you feel like going out this evening?" or "What are your plans?" or "Are you busy?"

 

Mark: Well,those, all of those ways are so typical. Their so usual, so I don't use those, I don't say those things because I feel like it's just too common, so I think women, or girls, usually respond¹ better if you're very direct², so I say something more like, um "So which is better for you, Friday night or Saturday night?"

 

Mike: OK, and they resond with a slaped face, or no? Then, what do they say to you?

 

Mark: You'd be surprised. Usually, it's, um, some good responses. I mean if the person doesn't like you then maybe they give you an excuse, "Oh, I'm busy Friday

and I'm busy Saturday." Well, that's OK. Then you know, that that person doesn't like you (right) but, um, but usually that direct question, it, the girl or the woman is often surprised that you're so direct so she laughs and she tells you an answer, "I'm free Friday." So you get a good response many times with direct questioning like that.

 

Mike: OK, and what would you do then on your, on a date? Would you say, "Great, let's go bowling³!" or?

 

Mark: I would set a time and again, I think it's not so important, what you do, as it is important to, to just make a decision and to do it, so some girls might not like bowling but if you pick her up on a date and you say, "Hey, we're going bowling tonight." If she really doesn't like bowling, she will tell you but usually if she doesn't mind bowling then she's happy that you made the choice. That's better than asking her, "So, what do you want to do tonight?"

 

Mike: I guess especially if you're the one spending the money for it then.

 

Mark: That's a good point. Yes. Absolutely.

 

Mike: It'll work out well for both. Well, thanks a lot, Mark.That's great.

 

Mark: You're welcome.

学习内容：

 

familiar with

 

For those of us who are not familiar with dating in the US, practices are different. 

When you are 'familiar with' something you have experience with it or you understand it. Notice the following:

 

I'm not familiar with most of the things on this menu.

Are you familiar with merengue music?

go about or getting a date

 

How would you go about getting a date with somebody? 

When you 'get a date' it means⁴ that someone agrees to have a romantic⁵ appointment with you. We can also use 'get a date' when we are referring to finding⁶ someone to go with us to something like a wedding or a party. When you ask some one how to 'go about' doing something you are asking for his advice on how to successfully⁷ do something. Notice the following:

 

I don't know if I'll have any luck getting a date for this Friday.

How do you go about getting your computer fixed⁸ here?

ask her out

 

If you feel she like you and you like her, then you ask her out. 

When you 'ask someone out' you are asking her to go on a date with you or to go somewhere with you romantically⁹. Notice the following:

 

If you like him so much why don't you ask him out?

It took him three months to get the courage to ask her out.

typical

 

Well, all of those ways are so typical, so I don't use those. 

This that are 'typical' are common or normal. Typical actions are things that many people do. Notice the following:

 

What is a typical lunch here?

This is a typical night here with everyone just hanging out and watching television.

direct questioning

 

You get a good response many times with direct questioning like that. 

A 'direct questioning' is when you ask the question that you really want to know the answer to without asking many stupid or unnecessary¹⁰ questions. Notice the following:

 

I think if you want to know the real truth you need to use direct questioning to get your answers.

The police do a lot of direct questioning to try to get the information they want.

date

 

What things do you do then on a date? 

A 'date' is a romantic appointment with someone. Common things to do on a date are going to a restaurant for dinner or seeing a movie at the cinema. Notice the following:

 

Many people go to the park at the end of their dates.

Our first date was so bad that I almost didn't go out with him again.

1 respond   

vi.回答，响应

参考例句：

• I offered him a drink but he did not respond.我请他喝酒，但他未作回答。
• I greeted him but he didn't respond.我跟他打招呼，他没答理我。

2 direct   

adj.直接的；直达的；v.指挥；知道；监督；管理

参考例句：

• This train is direct,you do not have to change.这辆火车是直达的，你不必换车。
• The army is under the king's direct command.军队由国王直接统帅。

3 bowling   

n.保龄球运动

参考例句：

• Bowling is a popular sport with young and old.保龄球是老少都爱的运动。
• Which sport do you 1ike most,golf or bowling?你最喜欢什么运动，高尔夫还是保龄球？

4 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

5 romantic   

adj.浪漫的，风流的，传奇性的，夸大的，想象的，浪漫派的

参考例句：

• She thinks it will be romantic to be an actress.她认为当个女演员会很浪漫。
• Her husband is very romantic.她丈夫非常浪漫。

6 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

7 successfully   

adv.圆满地；顺利地；成功地

参考例句：

• The meeting passed off successfully.会议开得很成功。
• At last we successfully put through the business deal.最终我们成功地完成了这桩交易。

8 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

9 romantically   

adv.浪漫地

参考例句：

• Yossariun kissed her ears and her closed eyes romantically and rubbed the backs of her thighs. 尤索林痴情地亲了亲地的耳朵和闭着的双眸，然后用手抚摸着她大腿的后部。 来自辞典例句
• For a time, she dated Barl Miller, who we heard was romantically involved with Eleanor. 有一个时期，她常与巴尔·米勒约会，我们听说后者与埃莉诺有罗曼蒂克的关系。 来自辞典例句

10 unnecessary   

adj.不必要的，无用的，无益的

参考例句：

• There's no sense in taking unnecessary risks.做不必要的冒险毫无意义。
• It's unnecessary to go into details.无须细说。