生活英语对话 Episode 37: The interview

本单元是关于面试的对话

Interviewer: How long have you been working at McCarthy's?
Tim: For the last 3 years.
Interviewer:And have you always worked in retail¹?
Tim: Yes I have. In fact ever since I was young I've been interested in commerce. My first job was in a newsagent's when I was still at school.
Interviewer:I see, and what are your strengths and weaknesses?
Tim: Well, some might say I'm a little head-strong. I do leap into projects and sometimes my enthusiasm can be a bit overwhelming. My strengths? I'm a great team-player. For example, when the stockroom was understaffed recently, I jumped at the chance to help out.
Interviewer:Lovely. Well thank you for coming in today. We'll be in touch very soon.

Vocabulary:（词汇）

to jump at the chance: （抓紧机会）
to eagerly accept a challenge or chance to do something

本单元语言点是现在完成进行时，现在进行时是动作发生在过去，现在还在持续进行，请看下面的解释和例句。

Present perfect continuous

We can use the present perfect continuous to:
1. talk about an activity which started in the past and is still going on now:
He has been working here for three years. He started working in McCarthy's in 2003 and now (in 2006) he's still working there.
She' s been living in London since 2000.
2. talk about a past activity which has a result in the present:
Have you been decorating? Your clothes are covered in paint!
He 's been working all day so he is tired now.
The present perfect continuous has two parts - the main verb and the auxiliary² verbs.


The form - the main verb:（句型 - 主要动词）

He has been thinking about it for ages.
She's been driving since 4 o'clock.
In these examples, the main verbs are 'to think and 'to drive'. In the present perfect continuous, we use the present participle form of the main verb (ing).


The form - the auxiliary verbs:（句型 - 助动词）

The auxiliary verbs are 'to have ' + ' to be'. When we make the present perfect continuous we use the present simple form of 'to have' + been:
I/you/we/they have been ...
he/she/it has been ...
The 'have' form is often shortened to: I 've , she 's , we 've , etc.
He 's been learning English for six months.
They' ve been looking for a house for months.
We use the auxiliaries³ to make negatives, questions and use only the 'have' auxiliary in short answers.
I haven't been living here long.
Has she been watching TV all morning?
Yes, she has.
No, she hasn't.


For and since:（表时间介词）

For and since are often used with the present perfect and present perfect continuous. We use for when we're talking about a period of time and since when we mention the start of a period of time.
For...
...15 minutes
...three hours/days
...a week/month/year
...a long time
...ages
Since...
...1993
...breakfast-time/lunchtime
...June/December
...years
...the war
...Valentine's day/Christmas
...10 April
...6 o'clock
...they were children
...the last time


Stative verbs:（静态动词）

Stative (or state) verbs describe states (things that don't change easily or quickly, for example, what you believe, think or own) rather than actions (jump, talk or buy). These verbs are not normally used in the continuous form (ing). For example:
I've been interested in commerce ever since I was young.
She hasn't believed in Santa Clause for 20 years.

For information about the stative verbs, see language point in episode – Another Round.

1 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

2 auxiliary   

adj.辅助的，备用的

参考例句：

• I work in an auxiliary unit.我在一家附属单位工作。
• The hospital has an auxiliary power system in case of blackout.这家医院装有备用发电系统以防灯火管制。

3 auxiliaries   

n.助动词 ( auxiliary的名词复数 )；辅助工，辅助人员

参考例句：

• These auxiliaries have made our work much easier. 有了这些辅助人员，我们的工作才顺利多了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• In English the future tense is often rendered by means of auxiliaries. 在英语中，将来时常用助动词来表现。 来自辞典例句