生活英语对话 Episode 31: The photocopier

本单元是关于复印的对话

John: Hey, Helen, look what I've found on the photocopier¹ - the answers for next week's test!
Helen: The answers? You'd better hand them in to the office.
John: You're kidding, aren't you? I think you should wise up.
Helen: What do you mean?
John: We've both been struggling with the work this term; here's our chance to pass with flying colours. If I were you, I'd make the most of it.
Helen: What? Cheat? We can't do that!
John: Why not? Do you want to fail? Your parents won't like it if you do.
Helen: No, I don't want to fail. But, if we get caught?
John: We won't get caught. Come on, what do you say?
Helen: Well, I'm not sure?


Vocabulary （词汇）:

you're kidding 你在开玩笑吧
you're joking. We use this expression when you don't believe what someone has said

wise up 别傻了
stop being stupid. We often use this expression when we think someone is being naive² or too innocent about life

pass with flying colours 考出好成绩
do very well in a test or exam

hand them in (idiom) （习惯用语）还回去
return them

本单元的语言点是给人忠告，在给人出主意的时候，通常有几种不同的结构可以使用

Giving Advice

There are several different structures that you can use when giving advice (在给人出主意的时候，通常有几种不同的结构可以使用)


Should （应该，必须）:

This is probably the most common of the structures for giving advice. After should, and its negative - shouldn't - we use the base form of the infinitive³ of the verb（这也许是最常见的给人出主意的结构。在should和否定形式shouldn't后，我们通常使用动词不定式原形）:

You should wise up
We shouldn’t cheat

It is common to use 'I think' and 'I don’t think' with should （'I think'和'I don't think'常常与should一起用）:
I think you should put the answers back
She doesn't think they should use them


Had better （最好）:

This structure is common in spoken English and it is usually used in the contracted form. After had better, and its negative - had better not, we use the base form of the infinitive of the verb （这种结构在英语口语中很常见，通常以缩略形式出现。在had bettter 和否定形式had better not后，我们使用动词不定式原形）

You'd better return the answers to the lecturer
You'd better not tell anyone that you found them


If I were you (如果我是你的话。。。)

This version of the second conditional⁴ is often used when giving advice, especially in spoken English. Note the use of were with I in the first clause （在给人出主意时，这种条件式在英语口语里很常见。注意在第一个字句里were和I的用法）
In the second clause, we use would - contracted to d - and wouldn’t.
After would and wouldn’t, we use the base form of the infinitive of the verb (在第二个字句里,我们用would和缩略否定形式wouldn't。在would和wouldn't之后，我们使用动词不定式原形):

If I were you, I’d give them back to the lecturer
If I were you, I wouldn’t use the answers


Ought （应该，应当；总应该；本应）

This is the most formal of the structures used for giving advice, and so it isn't so common （在给人出主意时，这是最正式的用法，因此较少用）.
After ought, and its negative - ought not (oughtn't), we use the full infinitive of the verb（在ought和其否定形式oughtn't之后，我们使用完整的动词不定式）:

You ought to contact the police
You ought not to cheat in exams

1 photocopier   

n.复印机

参考例句：

• You've left your master in the photocopier.你把原件留在影印机里了。
• If the photocopier stops working,just give it a clout.如果那部影印机停止运转的话就敲它一下。

2 naive   

adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的

参考例句：

• It's naive of you to believe he'll do what he says.相信他会言行一致，你未免太单纯了。
• Don't be naive.The matter is not so simple.你别傻乎乎的。事情没有那么简单。

3 infinitive   

n.不定词；adj.不定词的

参考例句：

• The use of the split infinitive is now generally acceptable.分裂不定式的用法现在已被广泛接受。
• Modal verbs generally take the bare infinitive.情态动词通常用不带to的不定式。

4 conditional   

adj.条件的，带有条件的

参考例句：

• My agreement is conditional on your help.你肯帮助我才同意。
• There are two forms of most-favored-nation treatment:conditional and unconditional.最惠国待遇有两种形式:有条件的和无条件的。