生活英语对话 Episode 95: A letter from Poland（在线收听）

本单元是关于来自波兰的信件的对话。

Helen: Dear Helen,
I've been thinking about you a lot lately. Remembering our good and bad times. You coming into the kitchen and thinking something was going on with me and Alice. That huge fight we had about John cheating in his exam.
So many memories - more sad than happy - but you'll always have a special place in my heart.
Helen, time moves on and so have I. It's difficult to tell you this, especially in a letter, but I've got to let you know. I've fallen in love here in Poland. I'm sorry to hurt you. We need to let each other go now.
Please don't write back.
Michal


Vocabulary 字汇

something was going on 不好的事
something wrong was happening

cheating 欺骗
behaving dishonestly

you'll always have a special place in my heart 你在我心中占有一席之地
you will always be important to me and I will remember you very fondly

to let each other go 分手
to not be in a relationship anymore and not see each other again

本单元的语言点是反身代词，请看下面的解释和例句

Reflexive pronouns

The reflex pronouns 反身代名词
When the subject and the object in a sentence are the same, we use a reflexive pronoun.

Examples: When you go to university, you need to look after yourself. He's very big headed. He has a very high opinion of himself. It's lovely to see you both. Come in and make yourselves at home.


Reflexive pronouns for emphasis 反身代名词强调与其用法
We can use reflexive pronouns to highlight or emphasise the subject or object. It makes it clear that we are talking about this person or thing and nobody or nothing else.

She's only two but she loves trying to feed herself = She's trying to be independent at a young age.

He likes to save money by cutting his hair himself = He doesn't get the hairdresser to cut his hair (as most people do).

Examples:
The queen herself is coming to visit our school next year.
They designed their house themselves. They said it was cheaper that way.
The match itself was really good, it's just a pity it ended in a two-all draw.

Comparing -selves and each other: "-selves" 和 "each other"的用法

Themselves/yourselves/ourselves and each other can refer to two people but they are used in slightly different ways.

Kate and Mike are both a bit crazy. You know, they' talk to themselves = Kate talks to herself and Mike talks to himself.

Kate and Mike talk to each other = Kate and Mike have a conversation together.

Examples:
They decided to treat themselves and have dinner in that new restaurant.
They treated each other for their wedding anniversary - he gave her chocolates and she gave him a new shirt.
They looked at each other and instantly fell in love.
The actress tried on the dress and the actor tried on the shirt for the play and then they looked at themselves in the mirrors.
Michal said 'We need to let each other go now'


When no reflexive pronoun is needed: 不需要反身代名词的用法
We don't use reflexive pronouns with some verbs: feel, relax, hurry, concentrate, meet, get up, wash, shave, dress

Examples:
I love to relax by just lazing on the beach doing nothing.
She needs to concentrate more if she want to pass his exam.
He gets up, washes and shaves early and then has breakfast.